Algeria plans to build its first nuclear power plant by 2025 in a bid to diversify its energy resources and meet soaring demand for electricity, the country's Energy and Mines Minister Youcef Yousfi said in remarks published Monday.

"We plan to have our first nuclear power plant in 2025 and we are in the process of working on this project," Mr. Yousfi said, according to the official Algerie Presse Service, or APS.

The country has set up a nuclear engineering institute to train engineers and technicians, who will be responsible for running the plant, he said.

Algeria , a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has 29,000 tons of uranium reserves, enough for setting up two nuclear power plants with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts each for a period of 60 years, Mr. Yousfi added.

The North African nation relies heavily on oil and gas for the majority of its foreign-currency revenue.

Several Arab states, including top oil exporter and fellow OPEC member Saudi Arabia , are also looking at nuclear power after failing in recent years to develop enough gas production to meet rising electricity demand, especially during the summer when use of electric-powered air conditioning soars.

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