US Energy Secretary states that Saudi Arabia and the US are progressing towards a civil nuclear agreement

The United States and Saudi Arabia are set to sign a preliminary agreement aimed at collaborating on the kingdom’s plans to establish a civil nuclear industry, as announced by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright during a press briefing in Riyadh on Sunday.

Following a meeting with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman earlier that day, Wright indicated that both nations are progressing towards an agreement to jointly develop a civil nuclear program in Saudi Arabia.

This visit marks Wright’s first trip to the kingdom as secretary, part of a broader tour of energy-rich Gulf states. He mentioned that additional details regarding a memorandum on energy cooperation between Riyadh and Washington would be revealed later this year.

Wright emphasized that for a U.S. partnership in nuclear development, a 123 agreement would be essential. He noted that there are various ways to structure a deal that aligns with both Saudi and American goals. The term “123 agreement” refers to Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which is necessary for the U.S. government and American companies to collaborate with Saudi entities on civil nuclear initiatives.

Wright pointed out that Saudi authorities have yet to meet the requirements outlined in the act, which includes nine non-proliferation criteria designed to prevent the misuse of technology for nuclear weapons development or the transfer of sensitive materials.

Previous discussions have faced challenges, as Saudi Arabia has been reluctant to enter into an agreement that would eliminate the possibility of uranium enrichment or spent fuel reprocessing—both of which could lead to nuclear weapon capabilities. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has consistently stated that if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would pursue a similar path, raising significant concerns among arms control advocates and some U.S. lawmakers regarding a potential U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement.

Wright did not refer to a broader agreement with the kingdom, which the former administration of U.S. President Joe Biden had pursued. This included a civil nuclear deal and security assurances aimed at fostering the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

As the largest oil exporter globally, Saudi Arabia is aiming to significantly increase its renewable energy production and lower emissions as part of the crown prince’s Vision 2030 reform initiative. A portion of this energy transition is anticipated to involve nuclear power.