SAUDIS HOST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PEACEFUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000495 SIPDIS PASS TO DHAHRAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018 TAGS: KNNP ECON ENRG TRGY SA SUBJECT: SAUDIS HOST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PEACEFUL APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IN THE GCC Classified By: ACG Sebron Toney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. PolOffs attended the International Symposium on Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Technology in the GCC, hosted by Jeddah's King 'Abd al-'Aziz University (KAU) November 3 ) 5, 2008. The conference was attended by a variety of Saudi academics and foreign scientists. Presentations focused on the fundamentals of beginning a nuclear program, including the regulatory legal framework, international training, human resource issues, protection of intellectual property, available reactor models and case studies of other developing nuclear programs. Debate ensued on initial steps towards a nuclear energy program and whether a complete nuclear fuel cycle was a realistic goal. Saudi officials emphasized on several occasions the peaceful nature of their nuclear aspirations. End Summary. Saudi Speakers -------------- 2.(C) During the first question and answer session, a Russian scientist asked the obvious question of Prince Dr. Turki Saud Muhammad al-Saud, a Deputy Director at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) which is mandated to lead Saudi Arabia's nuclear efforts: "Why does Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, need nuclear power?" Dr. Turki responded by asking why an energy giant such as Russia would need nuclear power. Dr. Turki then noted that nuclear energy had the greatest potential for future energy and desalination needs. Because Saudi Aramco sells oil domestically for only a few dollars a barrel, Turki argued that the KSA would maximize oil revenues by generating power by other means and selling oil abroad at market rates. 3.(C) Dr. Khalid al-Eissa, head of the Saudi Arabia Atomic Energy Research Institute (AERI) at KACST, was reluctant to rule out developing a complete nuclear fuel cycle. He listed many of the drawbacks of relying on international fuel supplies such as the dangers of importing hazardous materials and potential interruptions to the fuel supply. He also noted that nuclear fuel could be stockpiled for years in the future, while petroleum stockpiles were far more modest. Dr. Khalid eventually conceded that while it was more feasible and economical to buy fuel internationally, the decision is a political one. This may have been more an indication of the nascent state of Saudi Arabia's nuclear planning -- plus a logical desire not to remove options from the table at this early stage -- than an indication that Saudi Arabia hopes or intends to develop a complete nuclear fuel cycle. Foreign Presenters -------------- 4.(C) US firm General Atomics pushed gas-cooled high temperature reactors as ideally suited to the climate in the Gulf and the need for grid-appropriate nuclear reactors. Other presenters, including Jia Haijun from Tsinghua University, China, and Sumer Sahin and Farhang Sefidvash from Rio Grande do Sul University in Brazil, described other technologies that merit consideration such as the fixed-bed nuclear reactor concept being developed in Brazil which "only needs a place to build a prototype." 5.(C) Several presenters discussed necessary steps toward embarking on a nuclear program ultimately leading to nuclear-produced electricity and water desalination. Representatives from the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority focused on building a regulatory and legal framework. Others briefed on the need to build a well-trained civilian workforce and a safety culture capable of supporting and maintaining a civilian nuclear program - a need particularly acute in both Saudi and the Gulf countries where a cultural of safety and maintenance has yet to evolve. The sole Pakistani speaker presented on the use of radiation to enhance the value of gemstones by changing their color. Russian scientists presented little of value and their talks were not tailored to the GCC audience; whereas a Canadian scientist presenting on human resources development did a good job of addressing the prospective needs of the KSA and Gulf countries. There were no presentations from India or South Korea. A few Japanese and Chinese nuclear scientists or prospective vendors were present. JEDDAH 00000495 002 OF 002 Conclusion -------------- 6.(C) The conference presentations, taken together, suggest that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries have two options for pursuing a nuclear energy program: developing a research reactor and increasing the existing limited nuclear education and training infrastructure, which at KAU currently consists of 14 professors and 3 students; or outsourcing both the construction of a nuclear power reactor and the education of the prospective workforce in the short term, while simultaneously developing a regulatory and educational infrastructure over time. While the latter would take at least 10 years, it would be faster than the first option which would likely take decades. 7.(C) Comment. Saudi scientists at the conference asked insightful questions, and, at one point, successfully dismissed a large disagreement about the value of trying to determine the economic cost and advantages of a nuclear plant at this early stage. However their questions and comments did little to elucidate Saudi intentions, motivations or planning vis a vis an increase in the KSA,s current limited nuclear infrastructure, or the development of nuclear power plants. Most presenters largely refrained - at least during the presentations - from trying to advocate for or to sell nuclear technology. Several other foreign diplomats present, including representatives from France, Germany, and Pakistan, may have discussed such topics on the sidelines. End Comment. TONEY