Nuclear Desalination: A Sustainable Solution for Water Security in the Arab Region

The IAEA has been working with Arab countries for almost 30 years to support existing initiatives focused on nuclear desalination. Through feasibility studies, training programmes and research, the IAEA helps countries explore how nuclear energy can support freshwater production. Specialized tools like DEEP (the Desalination Economic Evaluation Program) enable decision-makers to compare costs and efficiency across different technologies.

As part of this ongoing support, the IAEA hosted a technical meeting on nuclear ‘cogeneration applications’ in April 2025, bringing together experts from around the world, including participants from Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait. The meeting reflects the growing interest in the Arab region in advancing non-electric applications of nuclear energy, such as desalination.

Unlike conventional desalination, nuclear desalination uses reactor-generated heat and electricity to separate salt from seawater, reducing carbon emissions while providing a stable, long term water source.

Jordan: Advancing SMR-Powered Desalination

Jordan, where 75 per cent of the land is classified as arid desert, is taking significant steps toward nuclear desalination. The government is exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), compact reactors that could power desalination plants. In 2023, an IAEA team evaluated Jordan’s studies on using SMRs to provide drinking water from the Red Sea to Amman, where water demand is rising.

“Desalination is considered the primary source of fresh water in Jordan to fulfil the expected demand and reduce the supply-demand deficit,” says Khalid Khasawneh, Commissioner for Nuclear Power Reactors at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC). “It offers competitive prices for fresh water to end consumers, in comparison with imported energy sources.”

Saudi Arabia: The Desalination Leader Exploring Nuclear

Saudi Arabia, already the world’s largest desalinated water producer, began exploring the use of nuclear energy for desalination in the late 1970s. As part of its strategy to move from an oil-based economy toward a diversified power production, the country is now considering nuclear plants to achieve its net zero ambitions and meet its long-term water needs.

According to the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), “the Kingdom is planning a sustainable energy mix that includes atomic energy to meet the energy needs of the Kingdom to produce electricity, desalinated water and thermal energy,” which aims to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and support economic growth.

Egypt: Nuclear Power and Water Strategy

Egypt is also integrating nuclear technology into its water strategy. With the country’s first nuclear power plant, El-Dabaa, under construction, discussions are underway about pairing nuclear energy with desalination in coastal regions. According to the Egyptian State Information Service: “Nuclear energy contributes to enhancing energy security and achieving environmental balance and water security.” As “nuclear facilities can supply the energy required for desalination plants to produce potable water.”

Kuwait: Exploring Nuclear Desalination for Sustainable Water Solutions

Kuwait, which depends heavily on seawater desalination to meet its freshwater needs, is increasingly turning to nuclear technologies to find more sustainable solutions for water and the environment. “Kuwait is facing the effect of climate change, ocean acidification, pollution from the oil and shipping industry, power and desalination activities,” said Nader Al-Awadi, the Executive Commissioner for International Cooperation at the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR). In line with its efforts to address these environmental challenges, Kuwait has also established a large-scale facility to carry out research on ocean acidification, aiming to further understand the impacts of changing ocean conditions on marine ecosystems, which are directly tied to the effectiveness of desalination technologies.

Nuclear desalination requires investments, regulatory frameworks and stakeholder engagement, as for all nuclear installations. The IAEA is working closely with interested governments to advance its safe, efficient and cost-effective implementation.

Continued investment, knowledge-sharing and regional partnerships between the Arab countries exploring nuclear desalination, will be key to success. If widely adopted, nuclear desalination could increase water security in the region for generations to come. Highlighting this growing engagement, Khalid Khasawneh, Commissioner for Nuclear Power Reactors at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), stated: “The IAEA support for Jordan's nuclear program, particularly the SMR project, is highly valued and plays a pivotal role in enhancing our capabilities and advancing our endeavors. We eagerly anticipate continued collaboration with the IAEA across all aspects of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.”

Francesco Ganda, IAEA Technical Lead for Nuclear Non-Electric Applications explains: “The non-electric applications powered by nuclear energy, such as desalination, present sustainable solutions for a number of water-intensive endeavours — from the consumption needs of millions of households and the industrial applications of fresh water to agriculture and livestock rearing — that current and future generations will face.”

At the IAEA’s recent cogeneration technical meeting, participants discussed key infrastructure needs for nuclear cogeneration projects. These discussions helped lay the groundwork for an upcoming IAEA document on ‘Specific Infrastructure Considerations for Nuclear Cogeneration Applications’, which will support countries in planning and implementing nuclear cogeneration more effectively. Aligned with broader IAEA efforts, “the initiative was welcomed by experts, especially those engaged in ongoing and planned nuclear desalination projects, as both timely and important,” according to Maria Elena Domenica Urso, IAEA Associate Nuclear Engineer.