Riyadh – Mubasher: The US-based Bechtel Group Inc. is very keen on participating in Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear programme, CEO Brendan Bechtel has said.
There will be a fierce competition between the firms to participate in the kingdom’s projects, the CEO added.
Overseas firms will race for taking part in the oil-rich nation’s projects, the top official added, noting that the US needs to be more competitive to secure a role.
The wolrd's biggest oil producer is weighing up cooperation with firms from several countries, including the US and South Korea, in establishing more than 16 nuclear reactors.
The US administration is at pains to extend a lifeline to Westinghouse Electric Co., Exelon Corp. and other US companies affected by a domestic downturn in nuclear power plant construction, Bloomberg News reported.
“It would be a pretty sad day for the US-Saudi relationship if the team US solution was not successful,” the San Francisco-based engineering and construction firm said, adding: “If it’s going to happen, we should be part of helping our allies develop a peaceful civilian nuclear programme.”
Bechtel has discussed cooperation means with Saudi King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the US company said.
Saudi officials expected contracts of building the first two nuclear plants to be signed by the end of 2018.
Bechtel is also interested to partake in the Saudi megaproject Neom, the $500 billion city which the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman plans to launch.
The US' largest construction company is also in talks with Saudi authorities over master schemes for the mining industry.
Mining is one of the key sectors that the GCC nation seeks to further develop as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan in a bid to wean the Saudi economy off oil revenues, according to Bloomberg.
