[/QUOTE]Building reactors for another country is inherently geopolitical, as it locks countries into expensive, long-term contracts. Sun Qin, former chairman of CNNC, once likened such deals to a “100-year marriage,” given the time it takes from initial discussions to signing an agreement and then on to the plant’s construction, maintenance and decommissioning.
China is Saudi Arabia’s largest oil buyer and biggest trading partner, and Beijing this year brokered a deal for Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalize relations. The Wall Street Journal has reported that China has helped Riyadh build its own ballistic missiles and helped the Saudis with a facility for extracting uranium yellowcake from uranium ore, an initial step toward enriching uranium. The Saudi government said it was working with the Chinese to explore for uranium, but the Journal’s disclosure raised concerns among U.S. and allied officials that Riyadh is keeping open the option of developing nuclear weapons.
The Chinese bid is at least 20% cheaper than offers received from two competitors—Kepco, and France’s EDF—making it attractive to the Saudis, the officials said. Saudi officials have said they view Kepco’s reactors and U.S. management as top of the line.
The crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, has made obtaining nuclear power a priority. After a decade of nuclear discussions, the Saudis are pushing to award a contract for the Eastern Province plant, known as Duwaiheen—a two-reactor, 2.8-gigawatt facility—by the end of 2023 and eventually construct 16 reactors at a cost of some $80 billion to $100 billion.
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