Russia To Build Venezuela's First Nuclear Power Plant

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez show signed documents during their meeting in Moscow on October 15.

Russia and Venezuela have signed an agreement for Russia to build Venezuela's first nuclear power plant.

The agreement was signed during a visit by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez to Moscow today.

The cost of the deal, signed following Chavez's talks with President Dmitry Medvedev was not immediately announced.

Medvedev said the deal would help Venezuela develop modern energy sources in addition to its hydrocarbon resources.

Chavez said Venezuela needed to reduce its dependence on oil and gas, and praised Russia for helping his country acquire new technologies.

Several other agreements on energy were also negotiated.

Chavez's government has bought more than $4 billion in Russian weapons since 2005 and new agreements have been under discussions, but no new weapons deals were announced today.

Chavez is to meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin later today.

compiled from agency reports