Abstract
High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTR) is a promising Gen IV reactor technology that has a wide range of applications. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in using HTR as an energy source for seawater desalination. A pre-feasibility study showed that HTR-Desalination is economically competitive and feasible. Yet, the application of HTR power and process heat in the desalination industry faces some technical, conceptual, and regulatory challenges. These challenges are mainly because the reactor and desalination plant are co-located and share common systems and facilities. Moreover, there is a risk of radioactivity and brine discharge impact, since both plants share the water source and discharge location. All these issues challenge the reliability and safety of both plants. Therefore, it is essential to develop effective regulatory frameworks. The basic regulatory and infrastructural requirement for the HTR is like any other nuclear power plant. This study reflects on the typical operational issues and influence of accidents in both plants and their impact on the other. Concluded with regulatory recommendations with an effort to find common interfaces between the regulatory aspects of the nuclear power and desalination industries, which aim at providing a more holistic view on a more comprehensive regulatory framework for nuclear desalination.
