U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONER VISITS ARMENIA
ARMENPRESS
Jan 23, 2008
YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: The U.S. embassy in Yerevan said
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Doctor Peter B. Lyons visited
Armenia January 21-22 to familiarize himself with the status of the
nuclear power plant at Metsamor and Armenia’s plans for building a
new power plant to replace the Metsamor facility.
A press release by the embassy said Dr. Lyons also explored with
Armenian officials ways that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can
help Armenia to develop the regulatory infrastructure needed in order
to license a new nuclear power plant.
During the course of his visit, the Commissioner met with officials
from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Ministry of Nature Protection and the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory
Agency.
He also visited the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.
Last November Joseph Pennington, the U.S. charge d’affaires in
Armenia and Armen Movsisian, Armenian energy minister, signed an
energy cooperation agreement, which includes joint development of
environmental safeguards for the country’s nuclear industry.
Armenia is planning to build a new 1,000-MWt power unit on the site of
an existing nuclear power plant, which has been operational since 1976.
The Armenia-U.S. agreement stipulates that the parties will join
efforts in preliminary assessment of environmental threats and the
development of seismic safeguards if the new reactor is built.
Specialists believe the existing Armenian NPP, located in the town
of Metsamor, near the Turkish border, will remain operational until
2016. It generates 40-50% of Armenia’s electricity.
In September 2003, the plant came under the five-year trust management
of INTER RAO UES, a subsidiary of Rosenergoatom and Russia’s RAO UES
electricity monopoly.
The European Union has insisted that Armenia shut down the nuclear
power plant, offering 100 million euros in aid. But Armenian experts
say construction of alternative power generating facilities would
cost the country about a billion euros.
In order to attract investment for construction of a new power unit,
the Armenian parliament abolished in 2006 the state monopoly on the
ownership of future NPP, allowing private investments.
According to Armenian minister, after the feasibility plan is prepared
the construction of a new power plant may take some 5-6 years.