ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT CORRECTS DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO LAW “ON ENERGY”
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 11 2006
Yerevan, April 11. /ARKA/. The RA Government has introduced corrections
into the draft amendments to the RA Law “On energy”, which stipulates
the abolition of government monopoly of nuclear energy, Speaker of
the RA National Assembly Artur Baghdasaryan stated in Parliament.
According to him, the draft amendments stipulate that the Armenian
nuclear-power plant (NPP) located in Metsamor will remain the
Government’s property and is not liable to privatization.
Among other important corrections is the issues related to the
construction of a new NPP in Armenia must be regulated by a special
law.
“This is a serious political arrangement,” Baghdasaryan said.
On March 1, 2006, the RA parliament postponed the voting on
the bill on abolition of government monopoly of nuclear power
because of disagreements. The opposition factions, as well as the
coalition-forming “Law Governed Country” faction voted against
the bill.
On March 16, the Parliament held a hearing of the issue of Armenia’s
energy security. During the hearing, RA Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan re-submitted the justifications of amendments to the law.
According to the RA Government, Armenia cannot afford the
construction of a new NPP. Therefore, the construction requires
foreign investments.