Saudi Arabia to build nuclear reactors using American technology

The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a landmark agreement

on civil nuclear power, the US Energy Department said on Wednesday.

The deal allows the kingdom to build nuclear reactors using American technology

and to enrich uranium.

And an expert is expressing his concerns.

Alex Bollfrass Head of Strategy,Technology and Arms Control, International Institute for Strategic Studies said

The big picture and the long term picture is that the United States

is currently fighting a war.

One of the reasons that started the war is that just across the Gulf,

Iran has insisted on their right to enrich uranium.

So I suppose there is a bit of an inconsistency in the US approach to being willing

to fight a war over the point of uranium enrichment on one side

and on the other side being willing, at least in theory to hand over that technology

if it deems it appropriate in the course of implementing this deal.

The deal is expected to last 30 years and is expected to involve

US firms in developing the programme.

But the deal could face headwinds among lawmakers when it is submitted

to Congress, who fear that by helping the Saudis fulfil their long-standing

desire to enrich their own uranium, it would open new rounds of nuclear

proliferation and competition.