Moscow, Oct 6 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has unexpectedly introduced a bill into the State Duma, lower house of parliament, to turn the Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) in to a state corporation.

The bill introduced in parliament yesterday, will for the first time create a state corporation from an agency of the executive branch of the government.

It is expected to be passed next January, after the election of the Duma in December. The text of the bill is yet to be published.

Russian media said, Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko will be the General Director of the new state corporation. The chairman of the supervisory board will be the head of the presidential executive staff Sergei Sobyanin. Other board members will be nominated by Prime Minister and appointed by the President.

Like the recently founded state corporations- Rosnanotech, Russian Technologies and VEB Development Bank- Rosatom will be directly subordinated by the government but will be financially independent.

The corporation will be responsible for atomic energy and and will also contribute to national defence and scientific research.

Weaponry, research and some safety measures will be financed by the federal budget.

UNI