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GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS EXTENSION OF SERVICE LIFE OF ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BY 10 YEARS
YEREVAN, March 27. / ARKA /. Armenian energy and natural resources
minister Armen Movsisyan has denied today media reports alleging
that the government had given up plans to build a new nuclear power
plant to replace the aging Metsamor facility, but acknowledged that
the construction of the new plant is being delayed because 'of the
global economic crisis and some geopolitical developments" which did
not allow the government to secure sufficient funding for the project.
In 2012 the Armenian government decided to extend the service life
of the nuclear power plant in Metsamor by another ten years. Today
the government has reaffirmed that decision.
The minister said today that all this in mind the government is
going to step up all its efforts to improve the safety of the nuclear
facility. At the same time, according to the minister, the government
will intensify the work for construction of a new unit.
The government has instructed today the ministry of finance to take
all steps necessary for the signing of an intergovernmental loan
agreement with Russia to raise funds to finance the project
The Metsamor plant located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan, was
built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake
in 1988 that killed some 25,000 people and devastated much of northern
Armenia.
One of the plant's two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was
reactivated in 1995.
Armenian authorities say the new plant is supposed to operate at twice
the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. Metsamor currently
generates some 40 percent of Armenia's electricity. But the government
has yet to attract funding for the project that was estimated as much
as $5 billion.
After September 3 talks with Armenian president Serhz Sargsyan
Russian president Vladimir Putin said experts from Russian state
nuclear company Rosatom and Armenian experts agreed to extend the
service life of the Armenian nuclear power plant until 2026.
In February 2013 Armen Movsisyan said the new nuclear power unit is
planned to be built in 2019-2020. -0-
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/government_reaffirms_extension_of_service_life_of_ armenian_nuclear_power_plant_for_10_years/#sthash.iBcrBqL5.dpuf
YEREVAN, March 27. / ARKA /. Armenian energy and natural resources
minister Armen Movsisyan has denied today media reports alleging
that the government had given up plans to build a new nuclear power
plant to replace the aging Metsamor facility, but acknowledged that
the construction of the new plant is being delayed because 'of the
global economic crisis and some geopolitical developments" which did
not allow the government to secure sufficient funding for the project.
In 2012 the Armenian government decided to extend the service life
of the nuclear power plant in Metsamor by another ten years. Today
the government has reaffirmed that decision.
The minister said today that all this in mind the government is
going to step up all its efforts to improve the safety of the nuclear
facility. At the same time, according to the minister, the government
will intensify the work for construction of a new unit.
The government has instructed today the ministry of finance to take
all steps necessary for the signing of an intergovernmental loan
agreement with Russia to raise funds to finance the project
The Metsamor plant located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan, was
built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake
in 1988 that killed some 25,000 people and devastated much of northern
Armenia.
One of the plant's two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was
reactivated in 1995.
Armenian authorities say the new plant is supposed to operate at twice
the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. Metsamor currently
generates some 40 percent of Armenia's electricity. But the government
has yet to attract funding for the project that was estimated as much
as $5 billion.
After September 3 talks with Armenian president Serhz Sargsyan
Russian president Vladimir Putin said experts from Russian state
nuclear company Rosatom and Armenian experts agreed to extend the
service life of the Armenian nuclear power plant until 2026.
In February 2013 Armen Movsisyan said the new nuclear power unit is
planned to be built in 2019-2020. -0-
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/government_reaffirms_extension_of_service_life_of_ armenian_nuclear_power_plant_for_10_years/#sthash.iBcrBqL5.dpuf