Moscow and Cairo have signed an agreement to build Egypt's first nuclear power plant, a deal that is telling of the nature of relations between the two countries, according to experts.

Moscow's move to fund and establish the nuclear plant reflects the strength of the political ties between Egypt and Russia, Aly Abdel Naby, former vice-president of the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority, told Xinhua.

Russia's provision of nuclear technology is mainly governed by politics, he pointed out.

The deal comes three weeks after a Russian airliner crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 on board. Russia confirmed that a bomb was behind the crash.

Amid concerns over tension in the relations between the two countries, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday that the nuclear deal "carries a message on the weight of relations between us and Russia."

"The agreement was a manifestation of the strong relations between Cairo and Moscow as well as the full understanding between the Egyptian and the Russian people," Sisi added.

Sisi announced the project in February during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Cairo. The plant is to be built in Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast in the northwest of the country.

Speaking of the airplane tragedy, Sisi said the "Egyptian people understand the concerns of the Russian people and their leaders regarding the security of their citizens."

Abdel Naby said the deal was originally due to be inked in December, but it was brought forward due to the crisis of the Russian plane in Egypt.

"Egypt wanted to send a message that the plane crash won't influence bilateral relations," he added.

Egypt has been considering a nuclear plant at Dabaa since the 1980s under former President Hosni Mubarak. The project was frozen amid concerns of Dabaa residents after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Abdel Naby said in addition to the political ties, the Russian technical and financial offer was the best among other seven countries for building four reactors.

Russia will grant Egypt $17 billion in loans that will cover 85 percent of the costs of the four reactors. Egypt will pay back these loans in 35 years from the revenues of the reactors production, Abdel Naby explained.

Egypt, with its growing energy needs due to an increasing population of nearly 90 million and its plans to lure investors and build huge national projects, is seeking to diversify its energy sources.

Sisi has always reiterated that power is a key part of developing Egypt, reviving its ailing economy and eventually creating job opportunities. Sisi said Egypt seeks to generate around 4,300 megawatts of power in the coming three years through the establishment of solar and wind energy plants.

Nuclear power is the cheapest source of energy, according to Professor Youssri Abou Sahdi, an expert in energy affairs.

Egypt's Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said the agreement is for the construction and operation of a "third generation" plant with four 1,200 megawatts reactors. The first two reactors will operate in 2025, the third in 2026 and the fourth reactor will generate electricity from the beginning of 2027.

"It was a dream for Egypt, to have a peaceful nuclear program to produce electricity," Sisi said.

"The country will not bear the cost of building this plant. It will be paid back through the production of electricity that will be generated by the plant," Sisi added.

Away from the generous Russian loan, Abou Sahdi believed that the establishment of a nuclear plant in Egypt is a very important step and a perfect investment when compared with electricity generated by solar or wind stations, which are expensive to maintain.

"Generally speaking, the revenues of any nuclear plant, even funded by Egypt, will cover its original construction costs in 10 years after its operation," he added.

Professor Abou Sahdi agreed with nuclear expert Abdel Naby that signing the deal is the beginning of real implementation of Egypt's dreams toward having nuclear power.

The author is a writer with the Xinhua News Agency. The article first appeared in Xinhua. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn