MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. South Africa is interested in the implementation of joint energy projects with Russia’s Rosatom, for doing which sufficient financing is required, the country’s former President Thabo Mbeki told TASS.

"We are interested in the development of nuclear energy. The only difficulty lies in the high cost of this technology and in the issue of its financing. If our government jumps to the conclusion that it is possible we assume that Rosatom could come to South Africa and enter into agreements with companies that are ready to pay for those projects," he said.

South Africa’s authorities consider peaceful nuclear development one of important components for ensuring sustainability of the country’s energy system and consider cooperation with Rosatom "one of possible options" for the work in this direction, Mbeki added.