ANADYR, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's nuclear power monopoly Rosatom has decided not to close the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant in the Chukotka Autonomous Area, the head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Power said Saturday.
"We have decided to continue the plant's operation, not close it," Sergei Kiriyenko said, adding he had just signed an agreement with Chukotka Governor Roman Abramovich on the region's energy development.
"We have agreed not to close the plant, but to expand its operations. It can work for another 10 to 20 years," he said.
He said the state investment fund could be tapped to finance the plant's modernization.
Kiriyenko also said a floating nuclear power plant in the region could be built by late 2011-early 2012.
