RIYADH, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi Arabian cabinet approved Tuesday the national nuclear energy policy, Al Arabiya reported.

The policy will be used for peace purposes only, it added.

The policy also focuses on transparency and security of the operational process at nuclear and radiation facilities. It will also work to best exploit local natural resources and to implement the international standards in radiation waste management.   

The policy comes with plans to grant contracts last December for the construction of its first nuclear power plants.

The construction work is expected to start next year.

Saudi nuclear power plant. (Photo: AP)