RUSSIA AND ARMENIA IN TALKS TO BUILD NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
By M. Alkhazashvili
Translated by Diana Dundua

The Messenger, Georgia
June 25 2007

A Russian-Armenian group working on new nuclear power infrastructure
for Armenia met in Yerevan, where they discussed security guarantees
for the country’s existing nuclear power station and cooperation in
constructing new units.

The Armenian side elaborated on their plans to develop their energy
grid, while Russian representatives presented project details for a
new nuclear power plant, reports the news agency Regnum.

In an April visit to Yerevan, the head of Russia’s Federal Atomic
Energy Agency, Sergey Kiriyenko, stated that Russia was ready to
provide both technical and financial assistance in constructing a
new nuclear power station for Armenia.

According to Regnum, the new 1 000 MW (megawatt) station will cost
USD 2 billion to build.

USD 240 million will be needed to decommission Armenia’s aging Metsamor
nuclear power plant, which is slated for closure by 2016.

The plant, built in 1975, was initially closed following the
devastating 1988 earthquake. One of two units, with a 400 MW capacity,
was reactivated in 1995. Metsamor produces 40 percent of Armenia’s
electricity.