Project Management Strategies for Managing Low-to-Moderate Nuclear Incidents in Saudi Arabian Nuclear Power Plants

This study examines how structured project management can strengthen the management of low-to-moderate nuclear incidents in Saudi Arabia’s emerging nuclear power program. The problem addressed is the absence of an integrated framework that combines internationally recognized risk management practices with practical project execution suited to the Kingdom’s demanding desert environment. The methodology draws on ISO 31000 and Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) as guiding structures, supported by a review of INES Level 1–3 incident cases and benchmarking against international experience to identify technical, human, and environmental vulnerabilities. These insights were contextualized for Saudi Arabia, where extreme heat, airborne dust, and grid variability create distinct operational pressures. The results indicate that aligning ISO 31000’s risk identification, analysis, and treatment processes with PMBOK’s planning, execution, and monitoring activities creates a coherent, phased strategy across preincident, during incident, and postincident stages. This combined approach improves early detection through predictive maintenance, strengthens response coordination during abnormal events, and supports systematic recovery through structured lessons learned processes. Discussion of international benchmarks, including Barakah and Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, demonstrates that incident outcomes improve when preventive planning and disciplined project execution are integrated. The study concludes that the ISO–PMBOK framework provides Saudi Arabia with a practical, transparent, and adaptable strategy for managing INES 1–3 events. Expected outcomes include improved regulatory readiness, enhanced safety culture, and greater public confidence, offering a standalone and concise summary distinct from the extended narrative presented in the introduction.