OREANDA-NEWS. Federal Nuclear Power Agency (ROSATOM) and United Company RUSAL, the word's largest aluminium and alumina producer, have signed a memorandum on the joint implementation of long-term investment projects.

According to the press service of RUSAL, the signed document provides for the detailed exploration of opportunities to establish energy and metals complex in the Far East comprising a nuclear power plant and an aluminium smelter.

The agreement is a logical development of the cooperation that was started in August 2006. In particular, the companies will coordinate activities to implement projects on the construction of a nuclear power station as well as production of nuclear equipment and the attraction of foreign suppliers of technologies and equipment.

Within the framework of a Project Office established in August 2006, ROSATOM and United Company RUSAL plan to carry out a feasibility study of the project in the Far East by the end of 2007. After the approval of the feasibility study specifying parameters of the nuclear power plant and aluminium smelter, the parties will set up a detailed schedule for implementation of the project.

The parties believe that the project should be carried out in the form of public private partnership to make it possible to raise funds for the project from the Russian Investment Fund or other centralised sources and invest them into the construction of transmission lines, transport infrastructure, etc.