Thursday, March 21 2024 17:01

ArmInfo. Prime Minister  of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the inaugural Nuclear Energy  Summit in Brussels. French President Emmanuel Macron, Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croux, European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, presidents,  prime ministers and representatives of a number of countries also took part in the event, the office of the Armenia's Prime Minister reports.

Prime Minister Pashinyan delivered a speech at the summit, in which  he specifically stated:

"Prime Minister De Croo, 

Director General Grossi, 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I extend my sincere gratitude to Director General Grossi for  convening this inaugural Nuclear Energy Summit, and to Prime Minister  De Croo for generously hosting this important gathering.

Armenia, as a state reliant on nuclear power generation, stands  firmly behind the consensus that nuclear energy is indispensable in  our fight against climate change and recognizes the inalienable right  of all NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons)  States Parties to develop it for peaceful purposes without  discrimination and political barriers. This is why Armenia was among  22 countries who fully supported the "International Atomic Energy  Agency Statement on Nuclear Power'' at the UN Climate Change  Conference (COP28) in Dubai in December 2023. We also proudly align  ourselves with the historic decision made at the COP28, which  recognized nuclear energy as one of the solutions to climate change  alongside other low-carbon energy sources.

Nuclear energy stands as a cornerstone in our strategy, ensuring both  the energy security of our nation and the mitigation of climate  change. We commend Director General Grossi's efforts to elevate  nuclear energy to the forefront of high-level discussions on climate  change mitigation.  For Armenia, nuclear energy plays an essential  role and helps to achieve our Nationally Determined Contributions  under the Paris Agreement. For decades, the Metsamor Nuclear Power  Plant has been serving as a critical element of our energy system  ensuring the stability and sustainability of energy production.  Presently, about 30% of our country's electricity derives from  nuclear energy. Our course of arrival to that point was thorny,  marred with dramatic period of the closure of the Nuclear Power  Plant. Today, we can proudly state that among other crucial things,  it also symbolizes and strengthens our sovereignty.

However, this critical role means great responsibility. We are  committed to upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety and  security in the operation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. This  commitment is behind the large-scale modernization and re-equipment  of the Plant during the recent years, which allowed to extend the  operation of the Armenian NPP until 2026.

Armenia actively collaborates with the International Atomic Energy  Agency, adopting a proactive stance to ensure nuclear safety and  security while fulfilling all its obligations. We regularly host  review and peer review missions, reports of which clearly indicate  that Armenia is operating the power plant in line with IAEA safety  standards. The absence of any nuclear or radiation safety incidents  throughout the history of our plant's operation speaks volumes about  our unwavering dedication to this cause. This achievement is a  testament to Armenia's political will and expertise. We also  acknowledge with gratitude the indispensable technical assistance,  knowledge and guidance from the IAEA and partner countries, which  have been critical in guaranteeing the safe, secure, and reliable  operation of our Nuclear Power Plant.

With such experience and set priorities, Armenia, alongside many  countries present here, has decided to extend the lifetime of its  nuclear power plant from 2026 until 2036. In December 2023, the  Government of the Republic of Armenia approved the implementation  project for the extension of the operational lifespan of the Armenian  NPP. We are committed to implementing timely and adequate measures  related to ageing management and appropriate safety improvements in  cooperation with partner states and under the guidance of the Agency.

This extension will lay a solid foundation for the smooth transition  to a new power unit upon the end of the ANPP's extended operational  period, which is our ultimate objective. In this regard, Armenia is  committed to fostering close collaboration with and leveraging the  expertise of both the IAEA and partner countries to identify the  optimal solution for replacing the current unit. Our transparent and  open policy for the safe and peaceful use of atomic energy will  continue to guide our efforts as we explore advanced nuclear  technologies to further enhance safety, efficiency, and environmental  credentials in our nuclear energy sector.

Today we renew our collective commitment to unleashing the full  potential of nuclear power and fostering conducive conditions for its  development. Regrettably, ongoing conflicts worldwide, including  recent ones in our regions, not only jeopardize the safety and  security of nuclear facilities but also hinder the advancement of  peaceful nuclear initiatives.  Armenia calls upon all international  partners to seize the historic opportunity of the current Summit and  with joint efforts advance the commitments and goals set out in the  Summit Declaration to pave the way towards a cleaner, safer, and more  sustainable future for the generations to come.  Thank you".