Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JEDDAH495
2008-11-19 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

SAUDIS HOST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PEACEFUL

Tags:  KNNP ECON ENRG TRGY SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4770
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHJI #0495/01 3241325
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191325Z NOV 08
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0229
RUEHBRC/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0012
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0133
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0369
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1035
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0010
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)

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