Possible Deep Geological Repository Site for High-Level Radioactive Waste in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The accelerating growth of the population and the constant development of technology created a high energy demand. However, these involved factors increased energy consumption, therefore increasing the greenhouse effect, and triggering atmospheric pollutants. Thus, creating demand for a more sustainable and cleaner energy source, the role of nuclear energy emerged. The nuclear industry faced challenges revolving around waste management, where it needed advanced technology and detailed plans to dispose of the radioactive waste safely. This project investigates the geology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to site the first Deep Geological Repository (DGR). The geology of the kingdom looks promising for such big-scale projects. Using the GIS approach, it was found that the geology of the southern side of the kingdom seemed suitable for a DGR that centers within the Empty Quarter. The site meets the requirements of a DGR, such as rare possibilities of earthquakes, floods, stability, depth ranging up to 1000 m, and sedimentary geological formations. This project contributes to the Saudi nuclear power program for the radioactive waste generated from research and industrial nuclear reactors following the 2030 vision to use nuclear and renewable energy resources.