France has inked a deal to build two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia.
For ‘peaceful purposes”, of course.
Saudi Arabia holds the second largest oil reserves in the world.
They desperately need nuclear power.
Sky News reported:
France has confirmed it is looking into building two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia, as part of 12 billion euro ($A17.31 billion) worth of deals struck between the nations.
Under one of the agreements Airbus will sell 23 H-145 multipurpose helicopters to Saudi Arabia for 500 million euros as well as launch a feasibility study into building the reactors, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday.
A slew of deals worth billions of euros were announced following the first “Franco-Saudi Joint Commission” meeting in Paris, led by Fabius and Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Fabius also mentioned the Saudi Arabian Airlines order for 50 Airbus passenger planes valued at $US8 billion, first announced at last week’s Paris Air Show.
The study for two European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) – which France considers the safest and most advanced in the world – takes on added significance given the current efforts by Saudi Arabia’s rival, Iran, to develop its own nuclear capabilities.