Russia keen to help Egypt get nuclear power

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http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A308237

MOSCOW — Russia will use a visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that began yesterday to pitch for lucrative contracts to help Egypt launch an atomic energy programme.

Egypt has ordered studies into building nuclear power stations after Mubarak said in September nuclear energy was a cheap and clean energy source and called for national dialogue on the issue.

Russia’s state atomic energy agency, Rosatom, said it was having preliminary discussions with Egypt.

Russian security council secretary Igor Ivanov confirmed Russia was interested in Egypt’s nuclear stations. “I expect that Egypt will announce an international tender and that, in competitive conditions, Russia will be successful,” he said.