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Tokyo, Feb 12 (IANS/EFE) The Japanese government has agreed to resume talks with Saudi Arabia on exports of nuclear technology for the construction of power plants in the Middle Eastern country, the Nikkei business daily reported. Even though the future of nuclear energy in Japan is still unclear in the wake of the 2011 accident at the power plant in Fukushima, the government plans to boost exports by taking advantage of Japanese firms' advanced technology in the field, Nikkei said. Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi agreed Saturday to begin talks with Saudi atomic energy officials, the business newspaper said. Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest oil producers, is developing its atomic energy industry as part of a plan to meet rising demand for electricity from a rapidly growing population. The Saudi government plans to build up to 16 nuclear power plants by 2030, allowing the country to increase its oil exports, Nikkei said. The Japanese-Saudi talks will be the first on atomic energy that Japan holds since the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 explosion at Chernobyl, forced the Asian nation to suspend exports of nuclear technology. --IANS/EFE rd
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