RUSSIA plans to take part in Egypt's nuclear power plant tenders once Egypt initiates the process, Russia's Trade and Industry Minister said on Thursday. "Russia is ready to enter in the tender for nuclear power in Egypt," Viktor Khristenko told a press conference with Egypt's Trade Minister Rashid Mohamed Rashid. "This direction is the basis for cooperation with Egypt in the field of nuclear energy," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. He did not elaborate. Rashid declined to give further details and said the announcement was due to be made by the Electricity Ministry, which earlier this week said that Egypt was aiming to build four nuclear plants by 2025. Minister Hassan Younes said the first plant was planned to start operating in 2019, without providing any details on the tender process. The most populous Arab country is aiming to shift away from oil and gas to other sources such as nuclear and solar, and it signed a deal last June with Australia's WorleyParsons for a nuclear power consultancy.
