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Armenia To Offer Turkey Participation In Nuclear Plant Project

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  • Armenia To Offer Turkey Participation In Nuclear Plant Project

    ARMENIA TO OFFER TURKEY PARTICIPATION IN NUCLEAR PLANT PROJECT

    http://www.azernews.az/site/shownews.php? news_id=11067
    04-03-2009 04:11:18

    The Armenian government intends to offer Turkey the opportunity
    to participate in the construction of its nuclear power plant,
    a multi-billion-dollar project that Yerevan plans to launch soon,
    Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has said.

    Sarkisian claimed that construction of a new nuclear plant was not
    only of economic but also of political significance.

    "This project could play an important stabilizing role in the
    region. We want neighboring Turkey to take part in building the power
    station, along with our strategic partner Russia."

    Sarkisian said tests required to start the project, which is valued
    at $4-6 billion, had already begun. The power plant is set to be
    built by 2016.

    Turkey has yet to respond to the Armenian premier`s statement, but
    the Russian media have maintained that Ankara thinks positively of
    the proposal.

    "The government of Turkey is anticipating an official appeal on
    participation in the atomic power plant from Armenian official
    circles," Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper) quoted an
    undisclosed Turkish government source as saying. "Only after that
    the Turkish side may consider the prospect of participating in the
    project and announce its decision. If all the issues involved are
    complied with, Yerevan`s proposal may be accepted."

    The issue of constructing a nuclear power plant in Armenia has
    been under discussion for several years. As is known, the existing
    Metsamor facility, located outside the capital, is dilapidated
    and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Union and
    other international groups are insisting it be shutdown. The power
    station, which consists of two blocks and has a capacity of 815 MWt,
    was commissioned in 1976 and was a key source of electricity for
    Armenia in the Soviet times. Along with meeting domestic demand,
    power generated at the facility was exported to Turkey as well as to
    Georgia and Azerbaijan.

    After sustaining considerable damage in the aftermath of a devastating
    earthquake in 1988, the operation of the power station was suspended.

    However, after lengthy talks with international representatives,
    Armenia managed to put one of the blocks, with 407MWt capacity,
    back into operation in 1995. Today, the facility meets half of the
    country`s demand for electricity. Since 2003, it has been managed
    and virtually owned by Russian giants Inter RAO ES and Rosatom.

    The EU has called for the close-down of the Metsamor power station by
    2010-2011, while Yerevan hopes for assistance from the organization
    of $1 billion in exchange for its closure.

    Meanwhile, the U.S. decided to help Armenia with the construction
    of a new power plant. According to a document signed, Washington
    will allocate $2m for the preparation of a feasibility study under
    the project.

    Joseph Pennington, the U.S. charge d`affaires in Yerevan, said
    Washington, which has long been pressing for the closure of Metsamor`s
    sole reactor, supports the ambitious idea and will help Yerevan put
    it into practice.

    "The U.S. government supports the building of a new plant not only
    to improve Armenia`s energy security but also because of continuing
    concerns regarding the safety of the existing nuclear plant,"
    Pennington said. "We look forward to the rapid replacement of the
    Metsamor facility with a more modern and safer plant."

    The diplomat said it would be premature to speak of the financing
    issue but added that Washington could help Yerevan find a source.
    From: Baghdasarian
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