ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia Friday General Director: By 2019 it will not be possible to complete the program of modernization of the second power unit of the Armenian NPP Yerevan October 27 Alexander Avanesov. Today it becomes obvious that by 2019 it will not be possible to complete the program of modernization of the second power unit of the Armenian nuclear power plant. Movses Vardanyan, general director of the plant said in conversation with the ArmInfo correspondent. According to him, in 2019 agreements with the Russian side will be suspended, and the program will be continued until 2021 by own forces, or the project will be extended with the participation of the Russian side. Nevertheless, the main part of the program to extend the life of the plant will be completed by the deadline - by the end of 2019. The problem remains the solution of the issue of the utilization of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel. The program, according to the CEO, has already been developed, but its implementation will require longer terms, and the ANPP intends to connect its Russian partners to its implementation. Movses Vardanyan stressed that from mid-April 2018 the plant will be partially stopped. In particular, one of the turbines will be stopped. In mid-June, the entire block will be completely stopped, during which refueling will be performed. From August 15, the unit will go into operation, and in December an upgraded turbine will be commissioned. The general director noted that until 2021 the plant has a license to produce electricity. Nevertheless, next year, due to long downtime (six months), the plant will not have 1.860 billion kWh of electricity, but this fact will not become the basis for applying to the regulatory body to increase the tariff from the nuclear power plant. "There are savings from previous years, due to which the tariff will not increase," the ANPP Director General said. The Armenian nuclear power plant consists of two units with Soviet (Russian) WWER reactors. The first unit was commissioned in 1976, the second - in 1980. In March 1989, after the Spitak earthquake, which killed 25 thousand people, the plant's work was stopped. In November 1995, in connection with the most acute energy crisis, the second power unit of the plant with a capacity of 407.5 MW was involved. In March 2014, the Armenian government decided to extend the life of the second power unit by 10 years - until 2026. The project is coordinated by the subsidiary structure of the State Corporation Rosatom - JSC Rusatom Service. Completion of work is planned for 2019. The Government of the Russian Federation allocated a $ 270 million state export loan to Armenia and a $ 30 million grant for these purposes. In March 2015, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) was established to implement the program. So far, there have been five meetings of the JCC.
Author: Karlen Baghdasarian
Atomic Armenia, Gassy Glendale
Garen Yegparian
BY GAREN YEGPARIAN
Interestingly, two places with heavy Armenian populations, Yerevan and Glendale are the loci and foci of rising power generation debates. Glendale’s timeline is one of several months while Yerevan’s is not clear cut, but further out.
The “Jewel City” wants to build a new, natural gas (methane, CH4) fired, electricity generating facility at its Grayson location. The stated aim is to replace four smaller, old, gas plants that run on technology that is much less efficient and more polluting. On the face of it, this seems to make a lot of sense.
But, as always, there’s more to the picture. The new plant would significantly increase the city’s generating capacity to a level far beyond its projected electricity needs (almost 80% more by one estimate). Plus the fuel used is one which is on its way out. California law requires that by 2030, 50% of electricity be generated from renewable sources, meaning solar, wind, hydropower, etc. A bill was proposed this year which would have raised that threshold to 100% by 2045. While it didn’t pass in the legislature and get signed by the governor this time, no one doubts that it will be reintroduced and enacted into law in the very near future. Hawaii already has set its 100% renewable target.
Where would the new status quo leave that brand–new, $500 million plant? No one can say for sure. Surely Glendale’s leadership is not clueless. Why embark on such a path? The underlying reason is the city’s finances. Cash is badly needed and the significant excess electricity produced would be sold. At least that’s what the unstated hope and intent seem to be. “But, but, but…” you’re probably thinking, “who would buy electricity from a non-renewable source once that 100% renewable mandate is place?” And, it gets worse. California has done so well building renewable generating capacity that in recent months it has already been forced to give away electricity during days when lots of solar and wind power was generated, creating a glut of power. In fact, on a few occasions, Californians even had to PAY other states to take the excess. In case you’re not aware, Glendale is in California.
Add to all this that the new Grayson plant will be spewing greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, CO2) and unavoidably some other pollutants. So Glendalians will be socked twice, in the wallet and the lungs, while their neighbors in Burbank, Los Angeles, and Pasadena will bear the toxic burden with them. And, in case that’s not enough “dirt” for you, the project site has a known, major, asbestos problem, plus several feet of soil will have to be removed in what is an EPA designated Superfund site (this is the type of place that is so polluted that tens or hundreds of millions of dollars must be spent to clean up)!
You can speak up against this by going to http://stopgrayson.com/ to make comments about the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) of the Grayson project. The deadline to do so is 5:00 pm on November 3.
Meanwhile, Yerevan is considering building a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging (41-year old) Medzamor/Metzamor facility. As it stands, restarting Medzamor after it was shut down during the Karabakh movement was tolerable only because of the absence of alternatives and the desperate need for power. A new nuke, while probably better designed (the current one is like the Chernobyl plant that had its meltdown in 1986), would still be sitting atop the Armenian Highland’s many earthquake faults. It would still make an appetizing bombing target for our genocidal eastern and western neighbors. It would take years to build. And, perhaps “best” of all, would run in excess of $5 billion!
Five billion dollars! If we can get that kind of money, it would buy a lot of solar panels and/or windmills. That would be a much better way to satisfy our homeland’s energy needs. It would not be subject to earthquakes, meltdowns, or Turks. Solar and wind generated electricity would be more distributed, reducing transmission losses. An industry installing and maintaining them could burgeon. While a long shot, perhaps local manufacturing of solar panels and or windmills might be created which could then engage in exporting their products to neighboring countries.
One figure I found online puts Medzamor’s annual output at 2,265 GW·h (gigawatt hours). So I decided to do some math for comparison. A 12 kW solar system, in Los Angeles, after the city’s Department of Water and Power rebate, costs $25,788. Given labor cost differences, I think it is reasonable to assume that the same setup in the Republic of Armenia is not going to cost any more. Assuming that only two hundred days per year are sunny, and only for six hours per day, then it would cost $4,056,237,500, i.e. just over four billion dollars to install as much solar electric generating capacity as the current nuclear power plant. That’s only 80% of the replacement cost of the nuclear power plant, and remember, labor costs will be lower, meaning even more capacity could be installed. In fairness, I should note that at least initially, getting solar panels to Armenia may be costly.
Once again, we must engage in heavy advocacy and lobbying work to drive policy makers in Yerevan towards the environmentally, technologically, and national-security-wise preferable electricity generating options. Our homeland’s future depends on it. Get busy talking this up with your contacts in the Republic of Armenia, and while you’re at it, don’t forget Glendale’s potential boondoggle.
Press Release: The Environmental Disaster in Teghut No Longer Possible to Cover Up: Denmark Pulls Out From the mine
Բարի օր,
Հարգելի լրատվամիջոցներ խնդրում ենք ձեր կայքերի անգլերեն բաժիններում հրապարակել կից անգլերեն հոդվածը՝ պահպանելով ակտիվ հղումները (hyperlink):
Հարգելի լրատվամիջոցներ խնդրում ենք ձեր կայքերի անգլերեն բաժիններում հրապարակել կից անգլերեն հոդվածը՝ պահպանելով ակտիվ հղումները (hyperlink):
Հարգանքով – Best regards,
Հայկական բնապահպանական ճակատ (ՀԲՃ) քաղաքացիական նախաձեռնություն – Armenian Environmental Front (AEF) Civil Initiative
Հայկական բնապահպանական ճակատ (ՀԲՃ) քաղաքացիական նախաձեռնություն – Armenian Environmental Front (AEF) Civil Initiative
Website: http://www.armecofront.net/
YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/armecofront
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/armecofront
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/armecofront
Կապ / Contact person Լևոն Գալստյան / Levon Galstyan – հեռ./tel. +374 99 53 05 88, +374 91 53 49 59, +374 93 53 49 59
Հասցե` Երևան, Սպենդիարյան 5, բն. 24
Address: 5 Spendiaryan str. apt. 24, Yerevan, Armenia
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Art: Works by Armenian artist Vigen Vartanov to go on display in Tbilisi
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 11 2017
14:45, 11 Oct 2017
The iArt Gallery in Tbilisi will open an exhibition of works by Georgian Armenian artist Vigen Vartanov on October 29, 2017. The works will be on display until November 6, 2017.
The exhibition titled “The Art of Found Objects” will feature nearly 60 assemblage and collage masterpieces.
Born in 1941, Vigen Vartanov started creating his unique artworks at the age of 25 and continued until a year before his death in 2016, while never displaying them to public. Whenever asked why he turned down any offer to exhibit his works, he would reply: “Later…”
Edward Nalbandian leaves for Russia
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is going to visit Russia to participate in the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS member states scheduled for October 10 in Sochi, The RA Foreign Ministry reports.
Armenia and Iran to expand cooperation in veterinary medicine
Vestnik Kavkaza
Oct 5 2017
Armenia's government has approved an interstate agreement with Iran on cooperation in veterinary medicine at today's meeting.
The agreement is designed to help develop bilateral cooperation in the prevention, control and monitoring of animal diseases, the government press service said.
It said the document provides for stimulating interaction on data exchange between research and scientific centers of the two countries in the field of preventing and eliminating animal diseases, as well as for exchange of information on legislation and procedures for control of import, export and transit of veterinary cargo, ARKA reported.
Babken Bagratyan becomes European Vice-Champion
At the European Weightlifting Championship in Pristina (Kosovo), Armenia’s delegates won the next medals.
At the age of 17, Babken Bagratyan(62 kg) won the title of European Vice-Champion in his age group with the result of 251 kg. He also won bronze medal in snatching exercise(111 kg) and silver – in pushing exercise (140 kg).
Russian Zulfat Garayev was declared the winner of the European championship, with a result of 269 kg.
Azeri Defense Chief Visits Israeli Arms Companies
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov
TEL AVIV (RFE/RL) – Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov visited the headquarters of Israeli defense companies and met with their top executives during an official visit to Israel, one of Azerbaijan’s main arms suppliers.
The visit comes in the wake of Israeli authorities’ decision to halt exports to Azerbaijan of “suicide” drones manufactured by an Israeli company accused of attacking an Armenian army position with them recently.
On September 14, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that Hasanov familiarized himself with weapons and ammunition manufactured by “leading enterprises” of the Israeli defense industry. It did not name those firms.
In a statement cited by Azerbaijani news agencies, the ministry said Hasanov discussed with their chief executives “military-technical cooperation” between the two countries. It did not elaborate.
Hasanov met with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman at the start of his visit on Monday. Official Azerbaijani sources said the two men discussed bilateral ties and “regional security.” The Israeli Defense Ministry issued no statements on the talks.
Lieberman, whose party is a junior partner in Israel’s coalition government, is a staunch backer of close ties with Baku. He has repeatedly made pro-Azerbaijani statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during the International Institute for Counter Terrorism’s 17th annual conference in Herzliya on Sept. 11.
An Israeli drone manufacturer, Aeronautics Defense Systems (ADS), said late last month that the Israeli Defense Ministry’s export control agency has at least temporarily banned it from delivering a $20 million batch of Orbiter 1K unmanned aircraft to a key foreign client. In a statement, ADS did not specify the buyer of the sophisticated weapon carrying special explosive payload. But it did attribute the ban to an ongoing inquiry conducted by the Israeli agency.
The Israeli newspaper “Maariv” reported on August 13 that the agency launched an investigation after receiving a formal complaint stemming from ADS’s commercial dealings with the Azerbaijani government. It said ADS representatives traveled to Azerbaijan this summer to finalize a contract for the sale of Orbiter drones to the Azerbaijani military.
The paper claimed that two Israeli drone operators working for the company rebuffed Azerbaijani officials’ demand to demonstrate the use of the deadly drone by hitting the Armenian position. But other, more senior ADS executives agreed to launch the deadly craft on the target, according to “Maariv.” ADS denied the report.
According to Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian-backed Defense Army, the Azerbaijani military most recently attacked its frontline positions with a suicide drone on July 7. The commander of an army unit stationed in northeastern Karabakh said in early August that two of his soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident.
Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Davit Pakhchanian last week praised the reported ban on drone sales to Baku but said Israel must be “consistent” in preventing its citizens’ direct involvement in Azerbaijani military operations. Pakhchanian claimed that Israeli arms dealers have repeatedly struck Armenian targets at the behest of Azerbaijani officials.
RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and Regional Cooperation Minister of Israel Tzachi Hanegbi signed agreements on cooperation
The Azerbaijani army heavily used similar suicide drones manufactured by another Israeli company, Israel Aerospace Industries, during the April 2016 war in Karabakh. Baku had bought the Harop drones as well as air-defense and artillery systems and anti-tank rockets as part of multimillion-dollar defense contracts signed with Israeli firms.
Armenia has long expressed concern at the Israeli-Azerbaijani arms deals, saying that they undermine international efforts to end the Karabakh conflict.
The drone scandal was exposed by the Israeli paper more than two weeks after Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi visited Yerevan in an apparent bid to improve his country’s frosty relationship with Armenia. Hanegbi met with Prime Minister Karen Karapetian and other senior Armenian officials.
In what may be a related development, a group of Israeli parliamentarians arrived in the Armenian capital earlier this week. They include two deputy speakers of the Knesset. One of them, Tali Ploskov, chairs an Israel-Armenia parliamentary “friendship group.” Her Kulanu party is also represented in the Israeli government.
The Israeli delegation met with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on Wednesday. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said the two sides “exchanged views on a number of regional issues.” It gave no details.
Turkish Press: Thieves break into Latin Catholic Church in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu, steal artifacts
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Sept 15 2017
Thieves break into Latin Catholic Church in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu, steal artifacts
Çetin Aydın – ISTANBUL
Four thieves broke into a Latin Catholic Church in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, stealing a number of religious artifacts on Sept. 15 but were caught later in the day.
Two of the thieves managed to break into the Catholic Church in the Karaköy neighborhood from a derelict building behind the church after initially failing to enter the shrine from the front door at around 7:30 a.m. The other two had been watching the surroundings for any threat to their robbery attempt.
The thieves later took the religious artifacts outside the church and loaded them into vehicles, which included a statue, a cross, many paintings and several religious books.
Meanwhile, police examined city surveillance cameras around the scene, determining the vehicles they used in the attempt and their subsequent addresses.
The four, identified only as Osman Adnan K., Adem H., Bekir M. and Karim M., of Uzbek-origin, were detained at three different addresses in the Zeytinburnu district.
They pleaded guilty and said they had sold a carpet stolen from the church to an auctioneer in Beyoğlu. It was later taken back before being sold.
While performing a search at their addresses, police also seized books and symbols, which had previously been stolen from different churches.
Their proceedings at the police headquarters have been ongoing.
In addition, the Catholic Church had reportedly been closed for five years due to renovations.
September/15/2017
Aliyev Blames ‘Armenian Lobby’ for Report on $3 Billion Slush Fund
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with his wife and vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva
BAKU—Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday blamed the “Armenian Lobby” for a new investigative report detailing how Azerbaijani elite used an estimated $2.8 billion slush fund to influence and lobby lawmakers in Europe and pay for extravagant purchases.
Aliyev, through his press secretary, said that American philanthropist George Soros and his henchmen—the “Armenian Lobby”—concocted the report released by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project on Monday to smear Azerbaijan.
The report details how thousands of payments from Azerbaijan were channeled through four shell companies in the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2014 to buy the “silence” of politicians and officials.
“Neither the president, nor members of his family have any relation to the charges contained in the report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project,” said Aliyev’s press office statement. “The dirty deeds of George Soros need to be investigated,” it said. “The Armenian lobby working in concert with him has been waging a smear campaign against the president of Azerbaijan and members of his family.”
The OCCRP and several press outlets in Europe, Russia and the United States collaborated on the report, entitled “The Azerbaijani Laundromat,” which states that “there is ample evidence of its [the sluch fund’s] connection to the family of President Ilham Aliyev.”
The report that has created shockwaves across Great Britain has prompted some members of parliament to call Prime Minister Theresa May to order an investigation into how companies registered there were able to operate such a huge money laundering scheme on behalf of Azerbaijan’s ruling elite.
Tim Farron, the former Liberal Democrat leader, led calls for an inquiry, saying this was what happens “when the corporate landscape is too lightly regulated,” reported the Guardian.
“We need a full investigation to see that dirty money has not been used to buy influence in the UK. The Azerbaijani government is guilty of systematic human rights abuses and it would appear the regime has been making payments on an industrial scale,” Farron was quoted by The Guardian as saying.
The OCCRP collaborated with the Danish newspaper Berlingske, which received a trove of leaked bank records that revealed the $2.8 billion slush fund, through which vast sums of money were laundered through a series of shell companies.
From 2012 to 2014, when the Azerbaijani government was rounding up opposition activists and journalists, members of the country’s ruling part were using the secret slush fund to pay off European politicians, buy luxury items, launder money and pay for high-end private schools in the United States.
“Meanwhile, at least three European politicians, a journalist who wrote stories friendly to the regime, and businessmen who praised the government were among the recipients of Azerbaijani Laundromat money. In some cases, these prominent individuals were able to mobilize important international organizations, such as UNESCO and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to score PR victories for the regime,” said the OCCRP.
The report also details more than 16,000 transactions were carried out by the four shell companies registered in the UK and pits Danske Bank, a major European financial institution and the largest bank in Denmark, at the center of the scandal.
The OCCRP said that Danske Bank “turned a blind eye to transactions that should have raised red flags. The bank’s Estonian branch handled the accounts of all four Azerbaijani Laundromat companies, allowing the billions to pass through it without investigating their propriety.”
“A majority of the payments went to other secretive shell companies similarly registered in the UK, indicating that the full extent of the scheme may be much larger than is currently known. Large amounts also went to companies in the UAE and Turkey,” added OCCRP.
Read the entire OCCRP report entitled “The Azebaijani Laundromat.”