Russia plans to sign deals in the next two years to build 10-15 nuclear power plants abroad, the country's nuclear chief said Thursday.

The move comes as part of an ambitious campaign to revamp Russia's nuclear industry and make it competitive on the global market, a plan approved by the president in July.

Sergei Kiriyenko said: "I hope we will secure contracts in the next two years to build about 10-15 nuclear power plants abroad."

He also said that Russia will seek to build 20 nuclear power plants overseas in the longer term.

Russia's Atomstroiexport, the nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, is already building five nuclear power plants in China, India and Iran, and is also bidding to build a plant in Belene, Bulgaria.