As expected, Japan has tabled a basic energy plan that calls for restarting its nuclear plants.

Japanese Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi presented the plan today (Tuesday) in Tokyo.

Dozens of Japan’s nuclear stations are offline for safety checks in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

But the current government led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to restart them to reduce Japan’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Instead of calling nuclear energy the “foundation” of Japan’s energy mix as in an earlier proposal, the new plan describes nuclear as an “important base load” energy source.

It describes nuclear power as cheap and reliable, though it doesn’t call for nuclear to be at the heart of Japan’s energy policy.

Before the Fukushima meltdowns drove thousands of people from their homes, nuclear power played a central role in filling Japan’s energy needs.

Japan’s prime minister at the time of the disaster had called for the country to leave nuclear behind.