Nora Al -Faihani
On the land of Manama, on the fourth of August 2025, an intellectual symposium held more than just an academic dialogue; It was an ambitious declaration of a strategic orientation that touches the economic and environmental future of Bahrain, which opened the title “Future Paths for Nuclear Energy”.
The occasion of this dialogue is the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America on cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy applications, during the recent visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister to Washington. This memorandum was a passport for the Kingdom towards the ranks of countries wishing to secure a stable and diversified energy future, consistent with the zero neutrality plans, and draws the features of a green economy capable of steadfastness.
At the heart of this dialogue, the technique of “Small Standard Reactions” (SMRS), described by Dr. Abdullah Al -Abbasi, Director of the Energy and Environment Program in “Dras”, as the optimal solution for the future of energy in Bahrain. These reactors, with their superior flexibility and high levels of safety and their relatively less capitalist cost, opens new doors, it is the nucleus of gradually expandable projects, touches vital needs, from generating clean electricity to support the increasing industrial and population growth, to the use of its heat in desalination of sea water in sustainable ways that reduce the huge environmental burden, and to pay the wheel of industries Petrochemical by granting it a fixed source of energy, as indicated by Dr. Muhammad Ali bin Shams from the University of Bahrain.
But the sustainable investment here does not stop when building the reactors itself, but rather extends to the creation of the entire nuclear value chain, and this was confirmed by Dr. Al -Abbasi and Dr. Bin Shams together, stressing the need to build qualified Bahraini cadres and setting the right legislative and technical structure; As it is a fertile field for investment in educational and training programs specialized in partnership with leading global universities and institutions, and in developing accurate legal and consulting frameworks that guarantee the highest standards of safety and nuclear security that are not compromising, and in creating an infrastructure supporting of advanced cyber surveillance and insurance systems.
Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim, from Babco Enege, also alerted that the essence of sustainability lies in smart integration, as nuclear energy operates along with renewable sources, and even with traditional sources when raising its efficiency, supported by smart networks capable of managing this mixture brilliantly.
There is no doubt that the way for this ambitious transformation carries challenges, most notably the size of the initial investments required and the precise preparation of the legislative and technical environment, but the symposium drew a clear map to overcome it, through international strategic partnerships that benefit from the expertise of the International Atomic Energy Agency and partners like the United States in transferring technology and building capacity, and through a tight and attractive legislation that protects the investor and guarantees transparency, with real investment in The human element, by involving young competencies and preparing them to lead this promising sector.
What happened in the “Draza” hall was more than a discussion, it was a spark of an ambitious Bahraini journey towards a more diverse economic horizon, sustainable and ability to compete. A peaceful nuclear energy, especially in its small normative version, is not just a source of energy, but rather a broad investment gate towards an advanced knowledge economy, long -term security and a cleaner environment.
The Kingdom of Bahrain, with its distinctive geographical location, strong international relations and insightful strategic vision, prepares itself to be a regional model to be followed in the field of integrated sustainable energy, in front of investors is fertile land for a prosperous future.
