Ecuador's energy minister on Thursday announced that Quito has signed an agreement with Moscow to develop nuclear energy "with solely peaceful purposes."
The agreement with Russia's state-run Atomic Energy Corporation is to work jointly to find "technology and nuclear applications that can be viable" in Ecuador, the ministry said in a statement.
Russia will provide support and advice to Ecuador "that will allow us to exercise an adequate nuclear energy use with solely peaceful purposes," the statement read.
The agreement includes training nuclear engineers from Ecuador.
Ecuador's leftist president Rafael Correa, who last year said he intends to strengthen ties with Moscow, is scheduled to travel to Russia in October.
Correa — like his regional ally President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela — is also seeking closer military ties with Russia.
Ecuador is building two hydroelectric stations in an attempt to end its dependence on neighboring Colombia for power.
The two countries broke diplomatic ties in March 2008 after Colombian soldiers raided a leftist Colombian guerrilla jungle camp in Ecuadoran territory.
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