Saudi Arabia prepares to grant IAEA additional inspection powers
Saudi Arabia is preparing to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency additional powers to inspect and monitor nuclear activities. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said this after the United States and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, The Jerusalem Post reports.
The planned U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement does not provide for Riyadh to join the Additional Protocol. It gives the IAEA broader inspection capabilities, including the right to conduct surprise inspections at undeclared sites.
Additional IAEA oversight
According to Grossi, the Additional Protocol would be the ideal option. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is preparing to undertake obligations that would go beyond the basic requirements of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA.
Control of sensitive technologies
Grossi said that the bilateral agreement could include provisions that would give the agency additional capabilities for verification and monitoring. They would concern uranium enrichment, its conversion and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Reprocessing makes it possible to separate plutonium from such fuel.
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The IAEA chief noted that the agency's powers regarding these sensitive activities should be very similar to those provided for by the Additional Protocol. He did not provide details.
Agreement with the United States
In July, the United States and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on cooperation in civilian nuclear energy. It is expected to allow Riyadh to enrich uranium and build nuclear reactors using U.S. technology.
Nuclear non-proliferation organizations, including the Arms Control Association, criticized the planned agreement because it does not require Saudi Arabia to sign the Additional Protocol. After the details are agreed, the bilateral agreement between the IAEA and Saudi Arabia is to be presented to the agency's Board of Governors, which includes 35 states.
