NEW NUCLEAR PLANT IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS
Lragir, Armenia
Dec 17 2007
The United States signed an agreement with the Armenian ministry of
energy three weeks ago by which the U.S. government will finance the
feasibility study of the new nuclear plant of Armenia, stated Joseph
Pennington, U.S. Charge d’Affaires, a.i., in a news conference on
December 17, in answer to the question on the participation of the
United States in the construction of the new nuclear plant of Armenia.
Pennington said the U.S. government will assign 2 million dollars for
this activity. He says it is the first step because the process will
be lasting and complicated. Their purpose is to help the ministry
of energy attract investors who are interested in building a nuclear
plant in Armenia, he says. Pennington says they have worries regarding
the security of the nuclear plant of Metsamor and have invested
a considerable sum in enhancing the security of the old nuclear
plant. He says they are hopeful that the nuclear plant of Metsamor
will be closed down not a long time later but they understand the
stance of the government that it cannot be closed down unless there
is another commensurate capacity.