Title: Siting of nuclear desalination plants in Saudi Arabia: a seismic study

Authors: M.S. Aljohani, A.F. Abdul-Fattah, A.I. Almarshad

Addresses: Department of Nuclear Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80204, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. ' Department of Nuclear Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80204, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. ' King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, PO Box 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This paper presents the selection criteria generally and seismic criteria specifically to select a suitable site in Saudi Arabia for a nuclear desalination plant. These criteria include geological, meteorological, cooling water supply discharge, transport infrastructure, population, electric grid, water network capacity, environmental impact and airport movement. The seismicity of the Arabian peninsula for the locations of seismic activity along the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf coastlines from 1973 to 2000 was studied carefully. This study included towns and locations along the east and west coastlines and their distances from the seismic event site. The results showed that Rabigh City along the west coast of Saudi Arabia is a good site to build a nuclear desalination plant. This is because of the following reasons: good seismic stability; good weather statistics; no flooding; mild wave conditions; good supply and discharge; good transportation infrastructure; low population area; very close to the huge electric grid.

Keywords: nuclear desalination; nuclear energy; seawater desalination; nuclear plant siting; seismic criteria; site selection; Saudi Arabia; nuclear plant planning; selection criteria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJND.2005.007019

International Journal of Nuclear Desalination, 2005 Vol.1 No.4, pp.383 - 395

Published online: 03 May 2005 *

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