Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to develop the King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy, a scientific centre for nuclear and renewable power.

The facility will investigate the application of nuclear power together with renewable energy to be used in the kingdom to meet rising electricity demand.

The new entity is to draft a national policy on nuclear energy development and will be responsible for supervising the commercial use of nuclear power and the handling of radioactive waste.

The King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy will be an independent legal entity and will be linked to the prime minister in terms of administration.

Its headquarters will be in Riyadh and it has been authorised to establish branches, offices or research centres within the kingdom.

Hashem bin Abdullah Yamani has been named president of the King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy, Walid bin Hussein Abu al-Faraj will be vice-president of the city and Khaled Bin Muhammad al-Sulaiman has been named vice-president for renewable energy affairs.