MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the Russian and Zambian governments signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build a nuclear science research center in Zambia. The document was signed by Likhachev and Zambia's National Development Planning Ministry Permanent Secretary Simon Miti.
"This is the start of a new task to create a nuclear industry in Zambia. Many plans lie ahead, including joint projects that will focus around a research reactor…. Russia is ready to share the best expertise at each stage," Likhachev said.
Russia will also help Zambia train qualified personnel to work in the center, he added, expressing hope for the new project to bring economic benefits to the country.
The deal was inked after the two nations agreed last May to cooperate in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, at the Atomexpo 2016 forum in Moscow.
Russia has been cooperating with non-nuclear countries, including Nigeria, Bolivia and Vietnam, to help them harness nuclear energy to treat diseases and sterilize food. Research centers usually allow to take further steps in developing an indigenous nuclear industry.
