Plans by Albania to build a nuclear power plant were backed by Croatia as a project that could benefit the entire Balkan region at a meeting on Tuesday of the two countries' prime ministers.

"We have agreed to work together, to invite other countries in the neighbourhood, Montenegro, Bosnia and others interested to work on this project," Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha told reporters.

"A nuclear plant would have significant importance and advantages for the region," he said after meeting in Zagreb with his Croatian counterpart Ivo Sanader.

Albania had worked on the project for the past two years, said Berisha, stressing it was "realistic enough to be achieved."

Sanader voiced his government's support to the project.

"We will call Bosnia and Montenegro for talks between the four countries about a possible nuclear plant to be built in Albania," Sanader said.

"We are very interested and we will try to reach an agreement between the four of us if there is an interest."

Albania has faced increasing problems in recent years to ensure enough electricity to satisfy its energy needs.

The impoverished Balkan country does not yet have any nuclear plants of its own, but Berisha said earlier that Tirana was working towards getting the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency.