The relevant agreement has been reached at a meeting in Moscow between Nigerian Science and Technology Minister Alhassan Bako Zaku and head of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko, local media report here.

The construction of the nuclear plant should help to resolve an energy crisis in Nigeria. In June, an agreement for cooperation between Russia and Nigeria in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy was signed. The signing of the agreement follows a memorandum of cooperation between the two countries earlier on in March this year.

Kiriyenko described the agreement as "broad", covering such areas as the development of nuclear power infrastructure in Nigeria, basic and applied research, feasibility studies into the construction of a research reactor and a nuclear power plant in the country, the production and use of radioisotopes, and the training of relevant personnel.

He added, "The agreement includes the subject of uranium mining, but it is more theoretical since the country does not have large uranium resources but unexplored territories. For us, it is to stake out a claim, in some sense."

To address rapidly increasing base-load electricity demand, Nigeria has sought the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop plans for up to 4000 megawatt of nuclear capacity by 2025.

With a population of about 150 million people, Nigeria is the most densely populated country in Africa. The world's eighth largest oil exporter, has spent billions of dollars over the past decade to resolve its power crisis, but residents have seen little improvement owing to mismanagement and corruption.

-APA