ARMENIA, RUSSIA DISCUSS INTL. ENRICHMENT CENTER

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 23 2007

YEREVAN, April 23 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia is in talks with Russia to
join an international uranium enrichment center, the head of Russia’s
nuclear power agency said Monday.

"We have already started initial consultations on Armenia’s
participation in an international uranium enrichment center," Sergei
Kiriyenko said at a meeting with Armenia’s Natural Resources Minister
Vardan Aivazyan.

Kiriyenko also said the relations between the two countries in the
nuclear sphere are entering a new level.

"Russia is ready to invest in uranium prospecting and production
in Armenia," he said, adding that the country’s estimated uranium
reserves are "at least 30,000 [metric] tons."

He also said Russia is ready to participate in building a new nuclear
power plant in Armenia.

"If the Armenian government decides to build a new nuclear power plant,
Russian specialists will take an active part in the construction
project," he said.

At present, Armenia has one NPP.

Russia and Kazakhstan said last month they will sign an interstate
agreement on an international uranium enrichment center in East
Siberia in the near future.

A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited
the Angarsk chemical plant, the site of the uranium enrichment center.

Last October, Russia and Kazakhstan, which holds 15% of the world’s
uranium reserves, opened their first joint venture to enrich uranium
in Angarsk.

The venture, which was part of Moscow’s non-proliferation initiative
to create a network of enrichment centers under the UN nuclear
watchdog’s supervision, will also be responsible for the disposal of
nuclear waste.

IAEA Deputy Director General Yury Sokolov said the principal
condition for enriched uranium deliveries is strict "observance of
all international non-proliferation rules."

The center will offer uranium enrichment services to countries
interested in developing nuclear energy for civilian purposes.

The Angarsk plant was previously removed from the list of "national
strategic installations," and there are no further legal impediments
to its operation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress