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300 Million To Close Armenian Nuclear Plant
Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments - Saturday, 31 May 2014, 15:25
After meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during
the meeting of CIS prime ministers Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan
announced that Russia will lend 300 million dollars to Armenia to
refurbish the Nuclear Power Plant of Metsamor.
A few weeks ago, when Tigran Sargsyan was prime minister, the
government of Armenia decided to prolong the work of the NPP for which
the Russian loan is intended. This decision means that construction of
the new NPP is postponed.
Hence, Armenia boosts its external debt by another 300 million dollars
to continue to operate the old NPP.
Russia had committed to assistance in building the new nuclear plant.
Armenia signed a contract with Rosatom. However, the Russians agree to
finance 20% of construction costs only while the total cost is 4-5
billion dollars.
Serzh Sargsyan announced about construction of the new nuclear plant
in October 2008. There has been no progress since then. Moreover, it
has been successfully hibernated thanks to Russia which has assumed
"leadership" of the new nuclear plant and thereby blocked involvement
of other potential partners, instead implementing a 20 billion dollar
NPP project in Turkey.
The United States and France were interested in the new NPP in
Armenia. The French President Sarkozy announced in 2011 in Yerevan
that he was ready to second a working group to Armenia for a baseline
study, as well as to look into the possibilities of participation of
France. Apparently, France has discovered that there is no possibility
for building a new NPP in Armenia because it is not in Russia's
interest. And the Armenian government will not do something that is
not in line with Russian interests, even if it is against the Armenian
interest.
Turkey's and Azerbaijan's vital interest requires that no new NPP be
built in Armenia. They have several reasons, including energy,
military and technological. It is peaceful atom, of course, but
"miracles" may happen to this atom, given the scientific potential in
Armenia.
Moscow is actually serving their interests, as well as through a 20
billion dollar deal on the Turkish NPP. Instead of building a new
nuclear plant, they are trying to extend the operation of the old one,
moreover, on a loan. Meanwhile, the old NPP is not forever, and sooner
or later it will have to be closed. Apparently, a campaign will be
conducted to shape public opinion as to Armenia does not need an NPP
because it is danger. If Moscow does not hesitate to shape public
opinion on uselessness of an independent and sovereign state, it will
not take it much effort to work for uselessness of the NPP.
In addition, the loan of 300 million dollar may include costs on public opinion.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32519#sthash.8cAVhmwJ.dpuf
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments - Saturday, 31 May 2014, 15:25
After meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during
the meeting of CIS prime ministers Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan
announced that Russia will lend 300 million dollars to Armenia to
refurbish the Nuclear Power Plant of Metsamor.
A few weeks ago, when Tigran Sargsyan was prime minister, the
government of Armenia decided to prolong the work of the NPP for which
the Russian loan is intended. This decision means that construction of
the new NPP is postponed.
Hence, Armenia boosts its external debt by another 300 million dollars
to continue to operate the old NPP.
Russia had committed to assistance in building the new nuclear plant.
Armenia signed a contract with Rosatom. However, the Russians agree to
finance 20% of construction costs only while the total cost is 4-5
billion dollars.
Serzh Sargsyan announced about construction of the new nuclear plant
in October 2008. There has been no progress since then. Moreover, it
has been successfully hibernated thanks to Russia which has assumed
"leadership" of the new nuclear plant and thereby blocked involvement
of other potential partners, instead implementing a 20 billion dollar
NPP project in Turkey.
The United States and France were interested in the new NPP in
Armenia. The French President Sarkozy announced in 2011 in Yerevan
that he was ready to second a working group to Armenia for a baseline
study, as well as to look into the possibilities of participation of
France. Apparently, France has discovered that there is no possibility
for building a new NPP in Armenia because it is not in Russia's
interest. And the Armenian government will not do something that is
not in line with Russian interests, even if it is against the Armenian
interest.
Turkey's and Azerbaijan's vital interest requires that no new NPP be
built in Armenia. They have several reasons, including energy,
military and technological. It is peaceful atom, of course, but
"miracles" may happen to this atom, given the scientific potential in
Armenia.
Moscow is actually serving their interests, as well as through a 20
billion dollar deal on the Turkish NPP. Instead of building a new
nuclear plant, they are trying to extend the operation of the old one,
moreover, on a loan. Meanwhile, the old NPP is not forever, and sooner
or later it will have to be closed. Apparently, a campaign will be
conducted to shape public opinion as to Armenia does not need an NPP
because it is danger. If Moscow does not hesitate to shape public
opinion on uselessness of an independent and sovereign state, it will
not take it much effort to work for uselessness of the NPP.
In addition, the loan of 300 million dollar may include costs on public opinion.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32519#sthash.8cAVhmwJ.dpuf
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress