Armatom scientific research institute wins another tender of JSC  Rusatom Service 

ArmInfo. Armatom scientific research institute has won another tender of JSC Rusatom Service (integrator of ROSATOM' service offerings) as part of the project of the Lifetime Extension of unit ü2 of Armenian NPP.

Talking to ArmInfo, General Manager of Armatom Scientific-Research Institute for Nuclear Power Plant Operation Vahram Petrosyan said the Institute is to develop and introduce engineering database for heat and hydraulic design of VVER-440 light water reactor of Russian type. He said a contract was signed with Rusatom Service in Yerevan yesterday to create the base within several phases. The base will be constantly replenished in 2017 and 2017.  He recalled that Armatom won the first tender under the above project and will develop two systems of industrial seismic protection and supply it to the  customer in May 2017. 

"The system will automatically switch off the reactor and ensure the NPP's safety in case of an earthquake," Vahram Petrosyan explained. 

In December 2014 and February 2015 the governments of the Republic of  Armenia and Russian Federation signed agreements on cooperation in  the project for extension of operation of unit-2 and extension of a state export loan to the government of the Republic of Armenia. Both agreements have come into force and the work has commenced.

To note, the Armenian NPP consists of two power units with the capacity of 400 megawatt each. But only one of these two power units is operating at present. The first unit was commissioned in 1976, the second one in 1980. At the beginning of 1989, the plant was decommissioned following the Spitak earthquake in December 1988. In early 1995 the second unit was re-launched. The ANPP's power output makes up nearly 40% of the total power generated in the republic. In March 2014, the Government adopted a decision to extend the lifetime of the unit No.2 of the NPP in view of the delay with the  construction of the new power unit.  At the current stage, the Lifetime Extension Project of unit No.2 of Armenian NPP is being implemented with the participation of Rusatom Service's specialists.  

The NPP will be modernized at the expense of the Russian  $270 mln loan and the Russian $30 mln grant funds. The project will be implemented by the late 2019.   The power supply problem in the country will be finally settled after the construction of the new nuclear power generating unit that will cost the country $5 billion.