Alexander Rumyantsev, head of the Russian atomic energy agency, acknowledged that since Moscow adopted a June 2001 law permitting it to import nuclear waste "we have not imported a single gramme of spent nuclear fuel produced abroad".

His comments do not include fuel from power stations built by the Soviet Union in eastern Europe.

"France does not let new players enter the market," he told reporters.

"And the Americans who criticise us over Iran do not accept the importation to Russia of (spent nuclear) fuel which is under their control in different countries," he added.

Russia was not yet able to reprocess large amounts of fuel, he said, adding: "Our industry can only reprocess some hundreds of tonnes of fuel a year."

"But Russia can develop its industry."

Russia continues to import spent nuclear fuel from Romania, Bulgaria or Serbia under Soviet-era contracts.

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