EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO CONTINUE ASSISTING ARMENIA WITH CLOSING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Noyan Tapan
Dec 6, 2007
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Commission will continue
assisting Armenia with closing the Metsamor nuclear power plant, the
Charge d’Affaires of the European Commission’s Delegation to Armenia
Raul de Luzenberger stated at the December 6 press conference. Besides,
the European Commission attaches great importance to the dialog with
partners from neighboring countries in the energy sector.
The RA minister of energy Armen Movsisian said that two important
projects have been implemented under the EU TACIS Program in Armenia
in the past two years: the development of the strategy of closing the
Armenian nuclear power plant and the assessment of the opportunities
for developing the renewable energy. According to the minister, the
necessary legislative field will be created based on the developed
strategy, and the sequence of technical measures related to the
closure of the nuclear power plant will be decided.
In the words of A. Movsisian, there are representatives of all
continents who are interested in building a new unit in the area of
the current nuclear power plant. According to him, the state will have
shares in proportion to its investments in the new power plant. At the
same time, the minister stated that in accordance with the legislation,
the nuclear power plant may be built with foreign capital.
A. Movsisian said that in addition to the dry depository for spent
nuclear fuel, a second one is being built in the area of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant, and it is envisaged to build a third depository
as well. According to him, spent nuclear fuel has great value. "If
we have an opportunity to keep this fuel, we should keep it until
some directions of its use will be known," A. Movsisian said.