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Saudi Arabia approves nuclear energy pact with France

The Saudi Arabian cabinet has given the go-ahead to an agreement signed with France two years ago on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the country

Saudi Arabian culture and information minister, Abdul Aziz Khoja, said the decision was taken by the cabinet following a recent meeting with French minister of industry, Arnaud Montebourg, in Riyadh.

As part of the agreement signed between the two countries in 2011, France offered to provide atomic training to local staff in Saudi Arabia.

According to the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), Saudi Arabia is aiming to build 17GW of nuclear capacity by 2032.

The organisation claimed that Saudi Arabia will deploy only the most advanced and thoroughly tested technologies as part of its nuclear development, paying maximum attention to safety, security and safeguards of the highest international standards.