In a Jan. 24 briefing, Ms. Lauvergeon did not provide details of the
agreement, Middle East Newsline reported. Areva, 90 percent of which is controlled by the French
government, has been lobbying to construct the first nuclear reactor in
Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has acknowleged the agreement. Officials said Riyad wants
to significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and diversify energy
resources.
"You want to have an energy mix to save oil, and this oil we can
leverage prices so we can sell it abroad to build these facilities," Hashim
Yamani, president of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewables
Energy, said. "Nuclear would be adequate for the base load. We'll use
renewables to add more capacity. There are some variations. Gas and oil
will have to continue to help."
Yamani said nuclear and renewable energy would reduce Saudi dependence
on fossil fuel by 2050 as well as increase crude oil exports. He did not say
when the kingdom, which in 2010 consumed 3.4 million barrels per day of oil
equivalent, would build its first nuclear power plant.
"Saudi will need to invest upfront in nuclear energy, but the oil saved
will contribute significantly to the costs," Yamani said.
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