Focus on nuclear energy for power generation

The 4th Arab States-China Cooperation Forum (ACCF) on Energy 2014, which marked the signing of an accord on peaceful nuclear energy use, concluded in Riyadh recently. Energy for sustainable development was the forum’s theme.
Both parties identified areas of strategic cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the establishment of Chinese factories in the Arab world, with technology transfer and investment in electricity projects.
The cooperation agreement underlined the need to enhance capacity building in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, especially in power generation and desalination of seawater, and the development of industry and technology in the Arab world in this field.
The objective is to achieve industrial growth and develop uses of nuclear energy technology for peaceful purposes.
The two sides are willing to further strengthen cooperation in this area by increasing economic exchange and the adoption of mechanisms for the implementation of electricity projects and maximize the local component of the Arab side, besides technical service to organize mutual visits and workshops between the Arab and Chinese sides.
The two sides agreed on the need for the maintaining the role of ACCF in the field of energy.
They emphasized the importance of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Arab League and the National Energy of China on the mechanism of cooperation in the field of energy and strengthen the existing cooperation, especially in the fields of oil and gas, electric power, renewable energy and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The two sides stressed that their cooperation in the field of renewable energy was all the more important, and there was the need to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and encourage business development in these areas on a large scale, as also provide solutions for economically viable technical service.
They will also coordinate to overcome difficulties encountered in achieving this goal, and stress the need to adopt appropriate measures that contribute to the diversification of energy sources, in cooperation with relevant organizations in Arab states and China.
In this context, they sought to lay the foundation for a road map and create an attractive investment climate, based on frameworks that are transparent.
They will also work for cooperation in the field of research and studies and plan for the implementation of major projects for renewable energy (wind and solar), and pilot projects that characterize technical, economic and environmental feasibility according to the circumstances of each country and its resources.
The two sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in cooperation between the Arab Atomic energy Agency and China National Authority for Nuclear energy (CNNC), by jointly organizing training activities for Arab engineers in nuclear energy programs in their countries.