France's energy minister signed a nuclear co-operation accord with Saudi Arabia, offering atomic know-how to the top oil exporter, a day after Paris unveiled measures to streamline its disputes-plagued nuclear industry. The co-operation agreement, which includes training of Saudi staff, is a first for the kingdom but follows French accords with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar aimed at promoting one of France's flagship industries in the power-hungry region.
"All our industrial groups are at your disposal in the nuclear and renewable energy industries," Energy Minister Eric Besson told Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani, the head of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, at the signing. France lost a landmark $40 billion deal in Abu Dhabi in December 2009, spurring some major soul-searching in governmental circles and public disputes between the chief executives of former power monopoly EDF and nuclear reactor maker Areva. The state controls both groups. EDF operates 58 nuclear reactors in France.