riyadh saudi arabia invite u.s. firm take part develop civilian nuclear power program energy minister khalid al-falih say monday add kingdom interest divert nuclear technology military use reuters report westinghouse talk u.s.-based company form consortium multi-billion-dollar project build two reactors firm push washington restart talk riyadh civil nuclear cooperation pact falih say saudi arabia commit restrict nuclear technology civilian use interest way divert nuclear technology military use active non-proliferation others say joint news conference u.s. energy secretary rick perry kacare king abdullah city atomic renewable energy saudi government agency task nuclear plan say last month website talk toshiba-owned westinghouse france edf hope two paths converge commercial technical discussions kacare american company work counterparts american side address regulatory policy issue falih say perry first official visit saudi arabia go unite arab emirates qatar week say bite premature comment negotiations early stag think work position get yes say washington usually require country sign peaceful nuclear cooperation pact know 123 agreement block step fuel production potential bomb-making use previous talk saudi arabia refuse sign agreement would deprive possibility one day enrich uranium world top oil exporter say want nuclear power diversify energy mix allow export crude rather burn generate electricity yet acquire nuclear power enrichment technology reactors need uranium enrich around percent purity technology process also use enrich heavy metal high weapons-grade level heart western regional concern nuclear work iran saudi arabia arch-rival enrich uranium domestically riyadh say want tap uranium resources self-sufficiency produce nuclear fuel kingdom send request information nuclear reactor suppliers october plan award first construction contract 2018. nuclear plan gain momentum part reform plan lead crown prince mohammed bin salman reduce economy dependence oil riyadh want eventually install 17.6 gigawatts atomic capacity 2032 17 reactors promise prospect struggle global nuclear industry unite state expect face competition south korea russia france china initial tender u.s. firm invite bid saudi nuclear plant