King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saturday ordered the establishment of a scientific center for civilian nuclear and renewable energy to meet rising demand for power and desalinated water. The King issued a Royal Decree ordering setting up of the King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy. Dr. Hashem Bin Abdullah Yamani has been named the president of the King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy, Dr. Walid Bin Hussein Abu Al-Faraj will the vice-president of the City and Dr. Khaled Bin Muhammad Al-Sulaiman has been named the vice-president for Renewable Energy Affairs. The City's goal is to contribute to sustainable development in the Kingdom by using science, research and industries related to renewable atomic energy for peaceful purposes, to upgrade the standard of living and improve the quality of life in the Kingdom. The City will support scientific research and development. The new entity is to draft a national policy on nuclear energy development and will be responsible for supervising all commercial use of nuclear power and the handling of radioactive waste. The King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy will be an independent legal entity and will be linked to the prime minister in terms of administration. Its headquarters will be in Riyadh and it has been authorized to establish branches, offices or research centers within the Kingdom. The City will also represent the Kingdom at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other relevant organizations. The City's Supreme Council - headed by the prime minister - will also comprise the deputy premier, defense and aviation minister and inspector general. Members will include the ministers of foreign affairs, higher education, petroleum and mineral resources; Dr. Musa'ed Bin Muhammad Al-Aiban, Minister of State and Cabinet member; as well as ministers of finance, commerce and industry, water and electricity, agriculture and health. Members also include the president of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and Dr. Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al-Suwayyil. The City's goal is to contribute to sustainable development in the Kingdom by using science, research and industries related to renewable atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The City will support scientific research and development. This includes localization of technology in the field of its specialization, specifying and coordinating the activities of scientific research institutions and centers in the Kingdom.
