Minister of Energy, Chairman of the Board of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, and Chairman of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz delivered Saudi Arabia’s statement at the 69th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, convened in Vienna.
Prince Abdulaziz said that the Kingdom reaffirmed the importance of strengthening nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response capabilities at the national and international levels.
He stressed that international cooperation and knowledge-sharing enhance the effectiveness of the nuclear and radiological emergency response systems to ensure people’s safety and environmental protection.
The minister conveyed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the IAEA’s efforts under the leadership of Director General Rafael Grossi to advance initiatives that support member states in building national systems, developing human capabilities in nuclear technology, and enhancing oversight of nuclear and radiological practices.
He noted that holding the conference affirms the agency’s key role in advancing international cooperation to harness atomic energy for peace and sustainable development.
Prince Abdulaziz congratulated Ambassador of the Slovak Republic Peter Burian on his appointment as President of the IAEA's 69th General Conference. He wished him success in leading the conference, which underscores the agency's vital role in promoting international cooperation to harness atomic energy for global development and peace.
The minister expressed confidence that this collaboration will help achieve the conference's objectives.
“Given the importance of nuclear energy in socioeconomic development, the Kingdom has moved towards utilizing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he said.
“The Kingdom, in cooperation with the agency, is continuing to implement its national nuclear energy project in all its components, including the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the Kingdom, to achieve multiple objectives: contributing to the diversification of the national energy mix, enhancing the security of supply chains, and advancing sustainable development”.