Thread by @karolcummins

Nuclear regulators were unaware of transfer of sensitive technical information re nuclear reactors to Saudi Arabia by Rick Perry’s DOE. washingtonpost.com/world/national…

The term “Part 810 authorizations” refers to permission given to share technological information but not pieces of equipment. For that, companies need a different approval under a 123 Agreement, which the United States and Saudi Arabia have not agreed on.
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

The exchange between Van Hollen and Svinicki illustrates growing concern in Congress over the DOE’s authorization of Part 810 information — nonclassified but sensitive details about nuclear energy reactors U.S. companies are trying to sell to Saudi Arabia.
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

📌The Trump adm divulged that it had KELT SECRET from Congress as well as the public seven authorizations for nuclear energy companies to use in wooing Saudi Arabia, a potential customer interested in building two nuclear reactors for civilian purposes.
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

📌📌The information kept under wraps includes the identity of the companies and the type of information.

📌Energy Secretary Rick Perry said the companies had asked for confidentiality because of proprietary information.🙄
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

“I fully understand and respect the need for U.S. companies to protect their proprietary information from competitors,”

“At the same time, however, Congress must be given sufficient information to fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibilities.”
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

In the Senate hearing Van Hollen said, “You have a statutory and regulatory role to play here, and I’ve got to say it’s astounding that not a single one of you is aware of whether, when and what role the NRC played in that particular authorization.”
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

Congress is also are seeking info about when the 810 approvals were issued, an effort to determine whether the administration issued any of them after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

📌📌Van Hollen said that administration officials “appear willing to short-circuit the process to achieve their political goal of continuing to cozy up to the Saudi regime.”
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

📌He added, “at the very least it [Trump Adm] is clearly unwilling to stand up to the Saudis on human rights while at the same time bending over backwards to give the Saudis access to nuclear material and technology.”
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

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