MINSK, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russian state nuclear power corporation Rosatom has agreed to take part in a tender for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus, the ex-Soviet republic's energy ministry said Tuesday.

Belarus plans to build a nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2,000 MW, with the first unit to come online in 2016 and the second in 2018. The plant is expected to have Generation III water-moderated reactors.

Belarus has sent invitations to Rosatom, French-German firm Areva and U.S.-Japanese company Westinghouse-Toshiba, the three main producers of this equipment, to participate in the tender.

"Rosatom has officially confirmed its intention to participate," the Belarusian energy ministry said, adding that Areva had also consented to take part in the tender.

The ministry said it had not received an official response from Westinghouse.

"We have sent an offer to that company as well. We are still waiting. The deadline will expire on August 1," the ministry said.