Seven prefectural governments in western Japan on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding with Kansai Electric Power Co. on keeping close communication in case of a trouble at a nuclear power plant, Kyodo News reported.

Hyogo Prefecture Governor Toshizo Ido, who heads the Union of Kansai Governments, and Kansai Electric President Makoto Yagi signed the memorandum in Osaka.

The Union of Kansai Governments consists of Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Tottori, Wakayama and Tokushima prefectures.

According to the memorandum, in the event of an emergency triggered by a natural disaster or a leak of radioactive material, Kansai Electric would report the incident to the regional union immediately.

The memorandum also stipulates the utility will work on the further development and use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. Regular informational meetings would also be held by the two sides in normal times under the memorandum.

The union requested an agreement with the utility on sharing nuclear accident information in the wake of the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant triggered by the great earthquake and tsunami last March.