Bellona, UK
May 6 2004

European Union calls for Armenian NPP closure

The European Union could allocate 100m euro to shut down Armenian
nuclear power plant and establish alternative sources of energy after
the concrete date of the plant’s closure is established.

2004-05-06 13:22

The chief of the delegation of EU in Armenia and Georgia Mr. Torben
Kholtse made this statement, Novosti reported. However, the Armenian
administration believes the nuclear plant should operate until the
alternative energy sources of the appropriate capacity are at place.

The Armenian minister of finance and economics Vardan Khachatryan
told journalists that the country works on establishing alternative
energy sources in case the nuclear plant is closed. It is required
about 1 billion euro to complete the works. The international donor
organisations and other countries could allocate the money. The
minister believes the gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia could become
an alternative source of energy for Armenia. The construction of the
pipeline should be launched already this year.

The Armenian nuclear plant operates one Soviet-design reactor
VVER-440 and generates from 30 to 40 percent of all energy in
Armenia.