ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ON NUCLEAR PLANT, ECONOMY, TURKEY TIES

Second TV Channel
April 27 2010
Armenia

The Armenian president has said that a safe operation of the country’s
Nuclear Power Plant is of "primary importance". Serzh Sargsyan was
speaking at a session of the Armenian Nuclear Energy Security Council.

He said that the global crisis had led to a decrease in the
consumption of gas and electricity in the country. He added, however,
that economic growth was already noticeable this year which, he said,
he believed would continue. The country has an energy security action
plan and pays special attention to integration into regional energy
markets and participation in regional projects, Armenian Second
TV Channel quoted him as saying. He noted that projects were being
successfully implemented with Iran, Georgia and Russia in the sphere
of gas transportation and electricity, the TV said. Sargsyan also noted
that although the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties has
been suspended "as a result of the inaction of the Turkish government",
Armenia still saw "a potential for exports of electricity to Turkey
and transit to countries of the Middle East". The following is text
of report by state-owned Armenian Second TV Channel on 27 April;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:

[Presenter] [Armenian] President Serzh Sargsyan and President of
the Nuclear [Energy] Security Council under the president Adolf
Birkhoffer have discussed the operation of the Armenian Nuclear Power
Plant and the commissioning of a new power unit. Their one-on-one
meeting preceded the opening of the 11th session of the Nuclear Energy
Security Council.

[Correspondent over video of meeting] The 11th session of the Nuclear
Security Council. Prior to it, President Sargsyan received Adolf
Birkhoffer, the president of the Nuclear Security Council. Sargsyan
attached great importance to energy and, in particular, nuclear
issues. He said that the international community has been displaying
an increased attention to the latter, which has been best proved by
the [12-13 April] international nuclear security summit in Washington.

On Washington summit

[Sargsyan speaking at session] During the summit, opinions were
exchanged on the most topical issues of ensuring nuclear security,
with a major focus on problems of controlling radioactive materials. A
new role which the International Atomic Energy Agency should assume
in this regard was especially noted.

[Correspondent over video of session] Discussing the safe operation
of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and construction of a new power
unit, Birkhoffer highly assessed the work of the government under
the guidance of the Armenian president, and President Sargsyan – the
efforts of Mr Birkhoffer aimed at a safe operation of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant. In his speech at the opening of the council’s
session Sargsyan highly assessed the role of the Nuclear Security
Council.

[Sargsyan] We are grateful to him for his invaluable assistance in the
issue of increasing the nuclear safety of the nuclear power unit that
operates in the republic and maintaining it at an appropriate level.

Safe operation of nuclear plant "of primary importance"

[Correspondent over video of session] The president noted that the
safe operation of the existing nuclear power unit of the Armenian
nuclear plant remains to be one of the most pressing issues for the
government. He said that quite a lot of work has been done. He said
everything is being done to accomplish all necessary tasks quickly.

[Sargsyan] Although the safety of the operation of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant is at present a task of primary importance,
we believe that the issue of decommissioning its power units is no
less topical. Preparatory work in this sphere has already started
in the country. Development of plans on decommissioning the nuclear
power units of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is included in the
action plan of EU-Armenia cooperation. We plan to implement this in
connection with the commissioning of the new nuclear power unit.

Economic growth to continue

[Correspondent] Speaking about the impact of the world crisis on the
Armenian economy, the president said that it [crisis] has led to a
decrease in the volumes of natural gas and electricity consumption
but economic growth is already noticeable in the current year, and
this supposes an increase in the volumes of consumption of electricity
and gas.

[Sargsyan speaking at session] We believe this positive trend
[of economic growth] will continue. Natural gas tariffs increased
starting from 1 April this year. Not wishing to aggravate the social
condition of the population, we had left the final electricity
tariffs unchanged. Nevertheless, a decision was made to increase the
electricity production tariffs of the Armenian electric power plant
starting from 1 April this year.

Energy security action plan in place

[Correspondent] The president told the participants in the council’s
session that there is an energy security action plan, noting that
in its national energy policy Armenia pays special attention to the
issue of integration into regional energy markets and participation
in regional projects. He noted that projects are being successfully
implemented with Iran, Georgia and Russia both in the sphere of gas
transportation and electricity.

[Sargsyan] The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was commissioned in May 2009.

The steam-gas energy unit at Yerevan thermal power plant has been
recently commissioned. Preparatory works on the construction of
intersystem energy transmission lines of a new voltage class for
Armenia – 400 kilovolts – with Iran and Georgia are successfully
advancing.

Potential for electricity exports to Turkey

[Correspondent over video of session] The president said normalization
of relations with Turkey and opening of the border could have
provided an opportunity to settle economic ties, in the sphere of
energy as well.

[Sargsyan] Although the process [of normalization of Armenian-Turkish
ties] has been suspended as a result of the inaction of the Turkish
government, we see a potential for exports of electricity to Turkey
and transit to countries of the Middle East.

[Correspondent] Accomplishing his speech the president said he was sure
that the session of the Nuclear Security Council under the president
will manage to hold a successful discussion on the aforementioned
issues and on issues of energy security in general.