In a conference room of the Riyadh Royal Palace, sunlight shone through the window frames onto the long table. His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, sat opposite the visiting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi. Without much exchange of pleasantries, the two went straight to the topic - how to safely turn Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy dream into reality at this critical moment of global energy transition.

This meeting is not only a diplomatic courtesy visit, but also a comprehensive "physical examination" of Saudi Arabia's national atomic energy program. From the improvement of the regulatory system to the reserve of technical talents, both sides deeply discussed how to leverage the IAEA's global network to ensure that Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy development runs fast and steadily.

Building a solid foundation for safety

Safety has always been the lifeline of nuclear energy development. In this meeting, both sides prioritized the implementation of nuclear safety standards. Saudi Arabia has demonstrated its latest progress in the regulatory framework for nuclear energy and radiation, emphasizing that it will strictly adhere to the highest international standards. The IAEA continues to play the role of a "technical advisor", not only providing guidance on standard setting, but also helping Saudi Arabia establish a professional team that understands safety and abides by rules through personnel training, ensuring that every aspect of the peaceful use of nuclear energy is foolproof.

Empowering talent development

In addition to the construction of hard facilities, the cultivation of soft skills is equally crucial. Saudi Arabia is well aware that without talent, even the most advanced reactors are just empty shells. Both sides focused on reviewing the cooperation achievements in experience exchange and capacity building. With the support of the IAEA, Saudi Arabia is gradually building its own nuclear infrastructure system. This collaborative model of 'teaching people how to fish' is cultivating a group of local experts in Saudi Arabia who can independently operate and maintain advanced nuclear technology, laying a solid foundation for future nuclear medicine and industrial applications.keywords:Domestic new energy latest news

Boosting Energy Transition

The ultimate goal of all these efforts is to achieve the grand objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia's' 2030 Vision '. As a traditional oil giant, Saudi Arabia is steadily promoting the diversification of its energy structure. Building the first nuclear power plant is just the first step, and nuclear energy will also be widely used in power generation, medical and industrial fields. The deep binding with the IAEA will greatly assist Saudi Arabia in optimizing its energy structure, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, and occupying a place in the global new energy landscape.Editor/Yang Meiling