Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Eng. Khalid Al-Falih said on Monday that the Kingdom is seeking to introduce atomic energy in electricity generation, describing this step as a fundamental, strategic option for the development and integration of a sustainable, environment-friendly and efficient energy sector. This is in line with the Kingdoms keenness on implementing the objectives of its national aggressive developmental vision, the Kingdom 2030 Vision, and diversifying its electricity generation sources to meet increasing national electricity demand, he added. He made his remarks before the annual 62nd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in the Austrian capital Vienna from 17-21 September 2018. Falih continued that that in order to implement Vision 2030, the Kingdom launched two ambitious programs to diversify its energy sources, namely the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative and the National Atomic Energy Program, which was launched in July 2017. He further stressed that the Kingdom, recognizing the importance and sensitivity of atomic energy use, is implementing its National Atomic Energy Program in accordance with all international treaties and conventions and best international practices, adhering to the highest safety, security and transparency standards. In addition, the minister voiced Saudi Arabia’s commitment to all nuclear-related international treaties and agreements it is party to. Falih also stressed the Kingdoms strategic, unwavering position on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This is based on the principle of maintaining balance between a state’s obligations towards non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and achieving nuclear security, on one hand, and its right to benefit from the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and its indigenous natural resources on the other. He stressed in this regard the importance of the countries complying with the non-proliferation treaty, which calls for nuclear disarmament. Furthermore, the minister reiterated Riyadh’s call for the creation of nuclear weapons-free geographic zones, emphasizing the Kingdoms call for cooperation with the international community to make the Middle East region, in its entirety, a nuclear weapons-free zone. Moreover, he urged the international community to take a more stringent and transparent stance against all threats to regional and international peace and security, particularly Iran, given its alarming efforts to build its nuclear capabilities. He also highlighted its continued and substantial support for terrorist organizations. The Kingdom calls for the highest levels of transparency regarding the safety of nuclear power plants. In this respect, Falih specifically noted that the safety standards of the Iranian Bushehr nuclear power plant are a source of great concern in the region, given its location, which is seismically active and closer to some cities in the Arabian Gulf area than to the Iranian capital itself. The IAEA, he said, is urgently required to assess the current risks associated with the plant and ensure its safety.