Interfax. Russia
May 22 2009

Construction of new nuclear power unit in Armenia to start in 2012

YEREVAN May 22

A project to build Armenia’s new nuclear power unit with a capacity of
up to 1,200 megawatts is to begin in 2012, Armenian Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan said in the country’s parliament on
Thursday.

"It is not important which country or organization will build a new
nuclear power unit in Armenia. What is important is that it should
function in compliance with the republic’s laws and international
requirements," the minister said.

International consortium Worley Parsons has been announced the winner
of Armenia’s tender to select a management company to implement the
aforementioned project in the country. A management company will help
the Armenian government arrange the entire construction process.

The construction of a new nuclear power unit was originally scheduled
to start in late 2010 or early 2011. According to its feasibility
study, the project will cost $ 5.7 billion-$7.2 billion. The facility
is expected to begin operating before 2017. The Armenian nuclear power
plant’s existing unit will be shut down before the new unit starts
functioning.

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