The two countries' long-term program for cooperation in nuclear power projects was agreed upon and signed by the bilateral working group in charge of these issues, which met in Moscow recently.

Slovak officials supported Russian firms' involvement in measures to upgrade Slovakia's existing power generating units, the Russian company said.

Russia, for its part, reaffirmed its readiness to join projects aimed at extending the service life of the Bohunice nuclear power plant, enhancing the capacity of Slovakia's existing nuclear power generating units and completing the construction of the third and fourth power generating units of the Mochovce facility.

Atomstroiexport is also interested in a role in projects intended to build new nuclear power generating units.

The Russian-Slovak long-term cooperation program includes a presentation of Russian nuclear technologies in Slovakia and steps to provide the Slovenske Elektrarne company with detailed information on Russian-proposed projects to build new generation nuclear power plants in Central Europe.

Slovakia is home to the Soviet-era Bohunice nuclear power plant with a capacity of 1,760 megawatts, which has four VVER-440 power generating units and began operating over the 1979-1985 period, as well as the Mochovce nuclear power plant with a capacity of 880 megawatts and two VVER-440 units, put into operation in 1998 and 2000, respectively.

Atomstroiexport, which is controlled by the Rosatom state corporation, is currently engaged in building nuclear power plants in Iran, India and Bulgaria. It plans to construct new nuclear power generating units in India and China as well.

The company also hopes to be selected as general contractor in projects to build new nuclear power plants in Turkey and the Czech Republic.

(c) 2009 Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.