Armenian Nuclear Power Plant to be halted for repairs in Oct

YEREVAN, Aug 23 (Prime-Tass) — The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant will
be halted for repairs and refueling on October 1, the plant’s General
Director Gagik Markosyan told Prime-Tass Tuesday.

The repairs involve maintenance works at the reactor unit and the
high-speed generator, Markosyan said.

The last time when the nuclear plant was stopped for an overhaul and
fuel refill was July 29, 2004, Markosyan said. The plant’s fuel
reserves were replenished for USD 12 million, he said.

The nuclear plant is currently in talks on nuclear fuel deliveries
from Russia, he said. Russian fuel producers are considering
increasing the fuel price by 20%, Markosyan said.

The Russian companies had planned to raise the fuel price in 2004,
but during the negotiations decided to maintain the price, Markosyan
said.

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was opened in 1980, closed due to
public pressure in 1989, and resumed operation in 1995. According to
analyst forecasts the plant is able to function until 2018.

Inter RAO UES, Russian power grid monpoly UES’ subsidiary, controls a
60% stake in the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, while Russian state
nuclear power holding Rosenergoatom holds 40%. End

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress