Nuclear deal with China cleared

The Cabinet yesterday approved an agreement with China for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The accord was signed in Riyadh on Jan. 15, 2012, the SPA said.
Saudi Arabia has already signed cooperation agreements with France, Russia, Japan and South Korea to develop nuclear energy facilities in order to meet the country’s increasing energy requirements.
The Kingdom announced in August 2009 that it was considering a nuclear power program on its own, and in April 2010 a royal decree said: "The development of atomic energy is essential to meet the Kingdom's growing requirements for energy to generate electricity, produce desalinated water and reduce reliance on depleting hydrocarbon resources."
The King Abdullah City for Nuclear and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) is being set up in Riyadh to advance this agenda and to be the competent agency for treaties on nuclear energy signed by the Kingdom. It is also responsible for supervising works related to nuclear energy and radioactive waste projects.