ARMENIAN NPP STOPPED FOR REGULAR REPAIR AND REFUELING

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. Armenian Nuclear Power Plant ceased
operating on Sunday because of regular repair and refueling, Gagik
Markosyan, the plant general director, told ARKA News Agency on Monday.

In his words, the plant was stopped for 45 days. Fuel comes from
Russia. "The fuel price remains pegged", Markosyan said without
mentioning it. He said this is a commercial secret.

He said that, within these 45 days, the plant authorities would take
certain measures in cooperation with TACIS EU program and U.S. Energy
Department to enhance its security.

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was launched in January 1980. The second
407.5-megawatt block is operating now. Speacialists say the plant
can function until 2016.

In 2003, the control over plant’s financial means were handed over
to INTER RAO UES, whose parent company is RAO UES Russia (60%) and
Rosenergoatom (40%).