Monday, November 14 2016 14:20

ArmInfo. Armenian  Parliament law makers at their November 14 session ratified  Armenian-Belarusian   intergovernmental Agreement on   Nuclear Energy  Peaceful Use Cooperation. 

As Areg Galstyan, the Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and  Natural Resources stated in his speech, the Belarusian Side yet in  2012 offered Armenia to initiate an active cooperation in the field  of nuclear energy. In the result of negotiations their Governments of  Armenia and Belarus signed the appropriate Agreement at the 12-th  session of Armenian-Belarusian intergovernmental Commission on 

February 19, 2016. Following Deputy Minister, both parties are  intended to develop the cooperation in accordance with this  Agreement, in such fields like the construction and  the operation of  new power plants, environment protection, implementation of nuclear  technologies in medicines, industries, and agriculture.  In the field   of R&D the Parties are intended to develop the cooperation in basic  research and public relations. Both Parties are intended to worj only  in respect to peaceful use of the nuclear energy.  Parites expressed  their willingness to follow the UN Treaty of Non-Proliferation of  Nuclear Weapons of July 1, 1968. Armenia and Belarus bear a liability   not to use any materials and equipment during explosion-related  works, and not to export those to third country without written  notification to the counter- party.

The Deputy Minister recalled that  construction works on 2 nuclear  units NPP   is in progress  in Belarus nowadays. Works a re  implemented by  the State Company of "Roatom". The Belarusiam part is  interested in  sound Armenian experience in  rising of water  reactors, which are going to be implemented in Belarus. " The  relations that exist between Russian and Belarusian  partners due to  the company of Rosatom, and the numerous solutions that were found  and implemented, are also interesting for Armenia," the Deputy  Minister mentioned. The main partner of Belarus in the NPP  construction  is the Russian company of "Atomstroyexport", which is  the affiliate of Rosatom. Within this purpose, Russia  rendered  USD  10 bln loan to Belarus. 

The Armenian NPP which  is the only in the region, is located nearby  the town of Metsamor (30 km to Yerevan).  In March 2014 the Armenian  Government took a decision on extension of the NPP 2nd unit lifetime.  The project is estimated to be implemented in 10 years and is  expected to be finalized by 2019