IAEA: Saudi Research Reactor Near Completion

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, announced today, Wednesday, that the Saudi nuclear research reactor being built by an Argentine company is "nearly complete." Grossi stated during a visit to Riyadh: "It is nearing completion, and it is being done with an Argentine company called Invap. They have finished the fuel and will be shipping it to Saudi Arabia." He noted that "of course there are some regulatory aspects to address, because from the moment Saudi Arabia has a research reactor, we will need to have a comprehensive safeguards agreement in place," adding that Riyadh is close to signing the updated IAEA agreement from 2015. Grossi told reporters, "I hope to speak with the Saudi Minister of Energy now so that the necessary inspections by the IAEA can be in place when we have nuclear materials here." In response to a question about when the fuel will arrive in Saudi Arabia, Grossi said, "The decision is up to the Saudis. From a technical standpoint, what I understand from the Argentine company is that they are ready."