Japan to assist Saudi Arabia’s nuclear power program

Deal will be Japan’s first overseas project since the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan has agreed to help Saudi Arabia in nuclear power development following a meeting between Japan’s industry minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Waleed Hussain Abulfaraj, vice president of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy.

Saudi Arabia plans to have 20% of its domestic power supply come from nuclear plants by 2030 and is eager for Japan’s cooperation to bring this about. Saudi Arabia currently has no nuclear reactors.

The world’s largest oil producer, however, plans to build 16 reactors because its oil consumption has been soaring as the population grows.

The latest move underscores Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's eagerness to export nuclear plants. The government’s initial budget plans for fiscal 2013 sees Japan setting aside US$13 million to help Japanese firms conduct research to build nuclear plants overseas.

Japan and Saudi Arabia are expected to further discuss details of the assistance and put together a paper on nuclear power cooperation.

The United States, Britain and Russia are also negotiating with Saudi Arabia on the pact.