File Photo: The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Bagac is surrounded by wide roads and an elevated landscape to mitigate nuclear accidents. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said Tuesday it would help the Philippines develop a nuclear power infrastructure under a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Energy.

The 2 parties also agreed to "explore the possibilities" for the construction of land-based or floating nuclear power plants with small reactors, Rosatom said in a statement.

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant will also be assessed to determine its possible reopening, according to the statement.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2017 ASEAN Summit, where Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was among the guests.

"The parties intend to cooperate in the development of the national nuclear infrastructure in the Republic of the Philippines to support further implementation of the peaceful nuclear program in the country," the Russian agency said.

"Rosatom possesses a unique experience in the field of NPP (nuclear power plant) construction projects and nuclear infrastructure development in many countries around the globe and we are ready to actively share this experience with our Philippine partners," it added.

Rosatom deputy director general for international relations Nikolay Spasskiy and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi signed the MOU, according to the statement.

A similar MOU was signed by Rosatom and the Department of Science and Technology last May.