Armenia has no money to close nuclear power plant

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
June 10 2004

RBC, 10.06.2004, Yerevan 09:20:50. — The Armenian Nuclear Power
Plant will work until alternative sources of energy are found,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian told reporters today.
According to him, a lot of money is required for closing the nuclear
power plant. “Unfortunately, we do not have such a sum,” the Prime
Minister added. Markarian underlined that the international community
did not provide Armenia with adequate financing. “An amount of EUR100m
is being considered, but this sum is insufficient for closing the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and developing alternative sources of
energy,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

According to Markarian, Armenian energy experts are studying every
possible source of energy. Additionally, they are developing programs
of reconstruction of the existing thermoelectric and hydroelectric
power plants to support Armenia’s independence in the energy sector,
the ARKA news agency reported.

As reported earlier, the EU plans to provide EUR100m for Armenia for
the development of alternative sources of energy, after an exact
date is set for closing the nuclear power plant, which was put in
use in 1980. The power plant was stopped in 1989 and was put back in
operation in 1995. The power plant generates about 40 percent of all
electrical power in Armenia on average. Experts reckon the nuclear
power plant can remain in operation until 2018.