"Work in this direction could be started right now. There is such a demand," Sergei Kiriyenko said after Russian-Mongolian intergovernmental talks.
Mongolian Prime Minister Sanjaa Bayar arrived in Moscow on Thursday on a three-day visit. Kiriyenko said yesterday after a meeting with Bayar: "During the meeting, the Mongolian prime minister confirmed his country's willingness to start developing a project to build a small- or medium-capacity nuclear power plant. We are prepared to join this work."
According to Mongolian estimates, uranium reserves in the country amount to 60,000 metric tons. However, Russian experts have assessed Mongolia's uranium reserves at 120,000-150,000 tons.
Kiriyenko also said Mongolia should start training personnel in advance. Bayar said Mongolia has asked Russia to assist with staff training and that Russia had agreed to begin courses in September.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said Friday at talks with Bayar that bilateral trade could reach $1 billion annually over the next few years.
