By Timothy GardnerJuly 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement on civil nuclear power, the U.S. Energy Department said on Wednesday, a deal that allows the kingdom to build nuclear reactors using American technology and to enrich uranium.A civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia has been in the works for years during both President Donald Trump's first administration and that of former President Joe Biden.

The deal is expected to be a financial windfall for American companies but is likely to raise concerns of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

The U.S. administration released scant details of the deal, but the framework paves the way for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia.