Armenian Energy Ministry: Special center for training certified welders for nuclear energy field will be opened in 2017 on basis of Armatom Research Institute

ArmInfo. Special center for training certified welders for nuclear energy field will be opened in 2017 on the basis of Armatom Research Institute, Deputy Energy Minister Areg Galstyan stated at today's briefing in Yerevan answering to ArmInfo's question about the necessity to involve Armenian specialists in the project of extending life cycle of the second unit of Armenian NPP.

To note, because of lack of orders in Armenia operation of the companies, which had directly participated in the project of reactivating the second unit of NPP in 1995 (Atomenergoremont, Armatomservice, Armteploizolyacia) have in practice ceased operations. About 200 highly qualified welders currently work in Yakutia, Bilibino NPP.

The Deputy Minister agreed that there is such problem and emphasized that this problem has become a "headache" for the Energy Ministry.  "Certain work is being done in this area now", Galstyan noted, adding that after training the welders will get access to nuclear stations for conducting special work. Besides, a program is being developed on training and retraining of specialists and students in the best Russian higher educational institutions preparing engineers nuclear experts. This program has already launched. In 2015 several persons have started their education program. Unfortunately, the number of them is not as significant as we would like, but this year the number of Armenian students will tangibly grow", the Deputy Minster stressed. Relating to the specialized companies the Deputy Minister stated that a special platform operates in Russia and those companies that wish to work in nuclear energy field should undergo relevant registration on this platform. "This is not a difficult procedure.  Besides, our partners from Rosatom have expressed readiness to assist in registration of Armenian companies, which want to participate in the project. One company, Armatom has already been registered on this platform. It has participated in one of tenders and won it. I call for all the potential companies to take active participation in the project as the scope of work is very large", Galstyan emphasized. 

Answering to ArmInfo's correspondent first Deputy CEO of Rosatom Kirill Komarov emphasized that the corporation's main goal is to perform work on qualitative level and transparently. All the work, which will be conducted on the second unit of Armenian NPP except highly specialized events, should be done openly via tenders. "A company should submit an application to participate. And we expect that Armenian companies will be active. On Rusatom Service online platform 10 thousand companies are registered from which 1.5 thousand are not from Russia", Komarov stated, adding that the state corporation is ready to assist Armenian companies in methodological literature. Moreover, there is no necessity to pay fees for registration. It is very important to ensure registration of a great number of companies not only for the project of modernization of Metsamor NPP but for further projects as well, as once registering they will be able to participate in any project of Rosatom worldwide and in Russia. "Currently our portfolio of NPPs under construction includes 43 units from which 34 are abroad and 9 in Russian Federation", Komarov stated.

To recall, in December 2014 Armenian and Russian governments signed agreement on cooperation for extending term of exploitation of the second unit of Armenian nuclear power plant. In February 2015 agreement on providing a loan for financing the work on extending life cycle of NPP was signed. In June 2015 Rusatom Service and NPP CJSC signed contract on conducting work, supplies and service for extending life cycle of the second unit of Armenian NPP.