China Helping Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Program

Al Ula is a small city in northwest Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is said to be constructing a facility for extracting uranium yellowcake in a remote desert location in the city’s general vicinity. Photo: ahmed yosri/Reuters

Wall Street Journal: Saudi Arabia, With China’s Help, Expands Its Nuclear Program

Kingdom harbors hopes for a civilian nuclear power program, but U.S. critics worry about its ambitions for nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON—Saudi Arabia has constructed with Chinese help a facility for extracting uranium yellowcake from uranium ore, an advance in the oil-rich kingdom’s drive to master nuclear technology, according to Western officials with knowledge of the site.

The facility, which hasn’t been publicly disclosed, is in a sparsely populated area in Saudi Arabia’s northwest and has raised concern among U.S. and allied officials that the kingdom’s nascent nuclear program is moving ahead and that Riyadh is keeping open the option of developing nuclear weapons.

Even though Riyadh is still far from that point, the facility’s exposure appears certain to draw concern in the U.S. Congress, where a bipartisan group of lawmakers has expressed alarm about Saudi nuclear energy plans and about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2018 vow that “if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.”

It is also likely to cause consternation in Israel, where officials have warily monitored Saudi Arabia’s nuclear work.

The Saudi Energy Ministry said in a statement it “categorically denies” having built a uranium ore facility in the area described by some of the Western officials, adding that mineral extraction—including uranium—is a key part of the country’s economic diversification strategy.

The Saudi statement said the kingdom has contracted with the Chinese on uranium exploration in Saudi Arabia in certain areas. A spokesman declined to elaborate on the ministry’s statement.

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WNU Editor: China wants access to Saudi Arabia's energy resources, and Saudi Arabia wants China's nuclear expertise. Since the U.S. and the West are reluctant to help Saudi Arabia's energy program, Saudi Arabia is looking for other partners.

More News On China Helping Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Program

Saudi Arabia constructs facility for extracting uranium yellowcake: Report -- Middle East Eye
Saudi Arabia constructs uranium ore facility with help from China -- Middle East Monitor
Saudi Arabia has built yellowcake uranium processing plant: WSJ -- Al Jazeera