RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN URANIUM JV TO START ITS WORK IN OCT-NOV 2008
RIA OREANDA
Sept 10 2008
Russia
Moscow. ">OREANDA-NEWS . September 10, 2008. Head of Rosatom Sergey
Kiriyenko and Energy and Natural Resources Minister of Armenia Armen
Movsissyan have opened the office of Armenian-Russian Mining Company
Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey
Kiriyenko and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia
Armen Movsissyan have opened the office of Armenian-Russian Mining
Company, joint venture set up by Russia and Armenia in July 2008 for
prospecting, mining and processing uranium in the territory of Armenia.
The JV was registered on July 15 2008. We have already drafted the
technical specifications and are waiting for licensing. I think that
the JV will start its work in Oct-Nov, Kiriyenko said. He pointed
out that at first they would carry out preliminary geo-physical and
geo-chemical surveys while drilling will be started next year after
the winter.
The JV will employ mostly local specialists. At the initial stage
the company will receive //$3mln. By 2010 we will have to have a full
picture of Armenias uranium reserves, Kiriyenko said. Russian experts
say that, at worst, the JV will meet Armenias needs while, at best,
it will export uranium abroad.
During his visit to Yerevan Kiriyenko held negotiations on the whole
range of issues concerning Armenian-Russian nuclear cooperation,
visited Armenian NPP and met with President of Armenia Serzh
Sarkissyan.
Kiriyenko said that they had discussed the prospects for building a
new nuclear power plant in Armenia and Rosatom was ready to take an
active part in that process.
He said that they had also agreed to prolong for five years the
contract with Inter RAO for management of Armenian NPP.