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Prospects for U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Energy Cooperation (CRS Report for Congress)

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Release Date Revised Sept. 23, 2024
Report Number IF10799
Report Type In Focus
Authors Christopher M. Blanchard; Paul K. Kerr
Source Agency Congressional Research Service
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  • Premium   Revised Sept. 28, 2023 (2 pages, $24.95) add
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Summary:

The 118th Congress may engage the Biden Administration with regard to U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia’s National Project for Atomic Energy and the potential for future U.S.- Saudi nuclear energy cooperation. In May 2022, Saudi Arabia invited technical bids related to the planned construction of two nuclear reactors, and, in January 2023, a Saudi minister restated the kingdom’s intention to use its domestic uranium resources for producing low-enriched uranium (LEU) as nuclear fuel. Congress and successive Administrations have sought the kingdom’s commitment to forgo the most proliferationsensitive nuclear facilities—those for enriching uranium or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel to obtain plutonium—and Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of enhanced international safeguards on its nuclear program. Previous Administrations linked prospects for a U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement to these conditions, and Congress has limited the use of certain funds to support possible U.S. nuclear exports to Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom makes such commitments. Depending on its nature and extent, possible future U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation may require Department of Energy (DOE) authorizations and/or congressional approval of U.S.-Saudi agreements.