China, Russia, France and South Korea compete for Saudi Arabia's first large nuclear power plant; coordination between the US and South Korea is critical.

China, Russia, France and South Korea bid for Saudi Arabia's first large nuclear power plant; US think tank promotes: Importance of US-South Korea coordination for Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy program

Korean companies are bidding to help Saudi Arabia build its first large nuclear power plant.

With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington on November 18, Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy program has once again become the focus. The choice of the builder of Saudi Arabia's first reactor could affect the region's energy landscape and test the depth of coordination between the United States and its allies in nuclear exports to third countries.

Riyadh is preparing to select a partner for its first large nuclear power plant located along the Persian Gulf, which is central to its "Vision 2030" diversification plan. China, Russia, France and South Korea have all submitted bids. Among them, South Korea stands out as a strong competitor. This is not only because of its rich experience in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant project in the UAE, but also because its reactor technology offers cost advantages, safety and operational reliability. Although the United States has not formally joined the bidding, its position remains crucial given that some reactor designs incorporate U.S. technology - particularly the APR-1400 reactor by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) - and the broader significance of this for U.S.-South Korea cooperation in nuclear exports to third countries.

For Seoul, the Saudi bid represents both a strategic opportunity and an diplomatic challenge. South Korea has become one of the most competitive nuclear exporters globally, which has placed it in a pivotal position in the Saudi tender. However, Washington's efforts to place U.S. technology and export controls at the core of any potential deal have complicated this opportunity for South Korea.

The stakes are equally high for Washington. U.S. policymakers view nuclear energy cooperation as a tool for exerting strategic influence and as a test of the coordination capacity of emerging market alliances. The tensions between Westinghouse and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company (KHNP) over intellectual property issues highlight the need for stronger U.S.-South Korea collaboration. If these frictions arise again, Riyadh will be cautious to avoid getting involved in legal or political disputes between its partners. Conversely, if Saudi Arabia decides to support Seoul's bid, this visit may serve as a platform for Washington, Seoul and Riyadh to reach an agreement on a coordination framework that integrates technical cooperation, export controls and long-term regulatory coordination, thus transforming potential friction into strategic collaboration.

U.S.-South Korea Coordination

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministers Meeting held in Seoul in late August, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly met with senior officials from South Korea and representatives from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to explore possibilities of enhancing coordination during the Saudi bidding process. It was reported that Washington encouraged Seoul to promote U.S.-authorized reactor models, especially the AP1000 by Westinghouse, rather than its independently developed APR-1400, and to consider joint bidding to align South Korea's commercial expertise with U.S. export control requirements.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set a long-term goal to develop up to 17 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2040. The first commercial nuclear power plant will be built in Khor Duwaiheen. Khor Duwaiheen is one of two proposed sites for Saudi Arabia's nuclear power plants, the other being Umm Huwayd, both located along the Arabian Gulf near the UAE-Qatar border. The project is expected to provide about 2.8 gigawatts of capacity, and it is the flagship large-scale nuclear power station of the Saudi National Atomic Energy Project (SNAEP), which is jointly managed by the Ministry of Energy and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACARE).

In this context, nuclear energy is not just a technological pursuit, but also a key strategic pillar for Saudi Arabia's post-oil transition.

Sources: The National Interest

Authors: Shahad Turkistani and Amal Altwaijri

Date: November 16

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1849084928562187/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author(s) alone.