Global Arab Network | Saudi Arabia to Set up King Abdullah City for Nuclear and Renewable Energy

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Saudi Arabia to Set up King Abdullah City for Nuclear and Renewable Energy

Global Arab Network - - George Haddad

Sunday, 18 April 2010 01:40

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia issued a royal order establishing "King Abdullah City (complex) for Nuclear and Renewable Energy" for peaceful uses.

The establishment of this city will enable the State to anticipate the needs of society and planning for responding accurately and thoughtfully in a way that could boost the rate of development and give the Kingdom knowledge ability according to international conventions and treaties governing the peaceful use of energy and providing the necessary materials for medical uses in agriculture and health, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Another royal order was also made, appointing Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani as head of the City in the rank of minister. Further, he appointed Dr. Walid bin Hussein Abu Al-Faraj, Umm Al-Qura University Rector, as deputy head of the new city in the rank of minister.

Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Sulaiman was also chosen as deputy head of the city for renewable energy in the first-call position.

Demand for power grew last year by more than 8 percent and is expected to grow to more than 60,000 megawatt (MW) by 2020.

The Gulf Arab state is investing $80 billion to boost installed power generation capacity to around 67,000 MW by 2020, up from 46,000 MW now.

SPA gave no more details or timeframe for the project but said the complex would be based in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The centre would be in charge of promoting research and sealing future deals, SPA said. It would also oversee activities related to the use of nuclear energy.

"The kingdom is witnessing sustained growth in demand for power and desalinated water due to high population growth and subsidised prices of water and power," SPA said.

"Thus the use of alternative, sustainable, reliable sources to produce electricity and desalinate water reduces reliance on hydrocarbons ...extends the lifespan of hydrocarbon resources and preserves it as a source of income for a longer time," it added.

Saudi Arabia aims to increase the use of crude oil for power generation to 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) on a daily average by 2020 from 1.5 million BOE in 2009, Alawaji told Reuters earlier this month.

Last year, France's Economy Minister said Saudi Arabia and France were close to finalising a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement.

The kingdom's Minister of Water and Electricity then said the Middle East's largest economy was considering building its first nuclear power plant.

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