CAPE TOWN, October 15. /TASS/. Russia is interested in energy cooperation with African nations on the basis of consideration of national interests of the parties involved, Russian Ambassador to South Africa and Lesotho Roman Ambarov said at the Russia - Africa investment forum held during the African Energy Week in Cape Town.

"Russia is ready to cooperate with African nations, offering energy solutions meeting their national priorities, strengthening energy security and facilitating sustainable industrial development," the Ambassador said. "Energy cooperation should be practical, long-term and mutually beneficial. It should not be confined to equipment sales or fuel supplies only. It should comprise technologies, engineering competences, localization of production, as well as education and training of national human resources," Ambarov noted.

Reliable and affordable energy is the foundation of industrial development, economic sovereignty and jobs creation in Africa, the Ambassador stressed. "The task is not to choose a certain technology being driven by ideological considerations. The task is to create a system that will function efficiently," he added.