China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) convened the Saudi uranium and thorium resources evaluation symposium in conjunction with the first coordinating committee conference on Sino-Saudi nuclear energy cooperative projects in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on July 17.

Witnessed by top officials from both countries, the uranium and thorium resources project has achieved significant results, laying a solid foundation for CNNC to promote cooperation on the whole industry chain with Saudi Arabia, as well as in carrying out negotiations with countries along the Belt and Road. 

Prior to the symposium, on March 16, CNNC Chairman Wang Shoujun and Dr Zohair A Nawab, president of the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding bilateral cooperation on uranium and thorium resources, in the presence of China’s President Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Beijing.

CNNC has promised to work on detecting radioactive resources in nine potential areas in Saudi Arabia within the next two years, according to the agreement. As the project executor, CNNC’s China Uranium Industry Company organized nearly 100 geologists to conduct fieldwork in Saudi Arabia.

In late May, CNNC staff completed the fieldwork phase and discovered and labeled several target mineral areas, building a solid foundation for further assignments. Saudi officials and experts praised the breakthrough made by crew in mine exploration and exploitation.