MOSCOW, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) - Russia plans to build a lunar power station by 2036 as part of its long-term lunar exploration program, Russian space authorities said on Wednesday.

Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos signed a government contract with Russian aerospace enterprise Lavochkin Association in December to carry out work on the project through 2036, it said in a statement.

The lunar power station will provide a long-term energy supply for Russia's lunar programs, including lunar rovers and observatories, as well as the infrastructure of the International Lunar Research Station, including facilities of foreign partners.

The whole project includes spacecraft development, ground testing, flight tests and the deployment of infrastructure on the Moon, it said.

According to Roscosmos, the project is an important step toward establishing a permanently operating scientific lunar station and marks a shift from one-off missions to a sustained lunar research program. ■