In partnership with Argentina, Saudi Arabia is on the verge of completing the construction of its first nuclear reactor

A series of satellite photos they revealed that Saudi Arabia is in the final step to build a low power nuclear research reactor (LPRR for the acronym in English). The project is in charge of the company Invania, who was born in 2015 product of an alliance between the state-owned Rio Negro company specializing in atomic energy INVAP and the Saudi public enterprise for technological innovation Taqnia

According to the CEO and CEO of Invap Héctor Otheguy, the sale of the reactor to Saudi Arabia generated an income of approximately $ 40 million for the state company, not only for the project of construction, but also by the programs of Training and workout sessions for Saudi workers.

"Saudi Arabia has a ambitious nuclear plan diversify its energy matrix. They have a lot of oil, but it will end in the future. That's why they launched this program in which Invap and other stakeholders intervene because they obviously will not generate hydro generation in this country.", Explained Otheguy in statements on the site Economic Bariloche in May of last year.

It is precisely this diversification of matrix of energy of Saudi Arabia and its progress towards atomic energy, causes concern in some countries, especially after last year, the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (who is responsible for the kingdom) He will ensure that his country seeks to build a nuclear bomb if its neighbor and main rival, Iran, does the same.

That's why it's not a coincidence though in July 2018 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA for its acronym in English) will send Saudi Arabia a mission of experts badyze the l & # 39; infrastructure and the development of the nuclear energy program. In a report, IAEA technicians conducted a series of suggestions and recommendations, and they urged the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to allow regular reviews of the progress of the nuclear program.

This incursion of the Arab country towards nuclear energy has given rise to mistrust democratic bloc in the House of Representatives in the United States Congress. Legislators are investigate what they consider a deepening nuclear technology transfer in Saudi Arabia.

However, in a statement, the Saudi Minister of Energy Khalid A. Al-Falih badured that the goal of the reactor is to "achieve peacefully activities of research, education and Training according to international agreements. " The point of controversy is related to the accession of Saudi Arabia to the protocol known as Small quantities of the L & # 39; IAEA but the kingdom has not yet adopted the rules and The procedures this would allow him to be subject to necessary controls once the reactor is finished and Saudi Arabia starts to ask for uranium for the project to work.

In this sense, the Argentine envoy to the IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi, badured that "Saudi Arabia must undergo a complete agreement of full guarantees with chords before the unit receives fuel. " "EFuel will not be provided until there are strong safeguards agreements. Once they need fuel, they must be established. "

The main objective of the IAEA is that, as part of its plan to build a series of nuclear power plants, Saudi Arabia uses the materials not for other purposes. Each of these reactors (they plan to build six) aims to generate 3.2 gigawatts of atomic energy in 2013.