MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia and India have drawn up and are prepared to sign an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation in the nearest future, said an official of Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

    "An agreement between Russia and India has been prepared on cooperation in the construction of additional power units at the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in India," Russian RIA news agency quoted Alexander Maryasov as saying.

    "Moscow will sign the new contract as soon as possible," Maryasov added.

    The agreement was initiated by the two countries earlier this month, according to RIA reports.

    Atomstroyexport, Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, is constructing the Koodankulam plant in accordance with an initial 1988 deal between India and Russia.

    However, Maryasov said that the agreement would be signed only after restrictions on nuclear supplies and technology transfer to India are lifted and a safeguards deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is signed.

    Russia has been eager to reassert its traditional role as the chief supplier of nuclear technology and know-how to India in the wake of a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation deal between New Delhi and Washington last year that appeared to give U.S. companies a strong position in India's nuclear market.

    Russia is currently helping India build two one-thousand-megawatt nuclear reactors in Koodankulam in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.