A. Likhachev: Russia understands the importance of the project to extend the life of the Armenian nuclear power plant from the point of view of ensuring the country`s energy security

ArmInfo. On June 12, 2017, the  general director of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Alexey  Likhachev was on a working visit to the Republic of Armenia. During  the visit, the head of Rosatom met with the Prime Minister of the  Republic of Armenia Karen Karapetyan, where a wide range of issues of  cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy  was discussed. Before that, Likhachev visited the site of the  Armenian nuclear power plant in the city of Metsamor, the company's  press service reported.

According to the source, the key area of cooperation between Russia  and Armenia in the nuclear field is the project to extend the life of  the existing power unit No. 2 of the nuclear power plant (it  generates about 40% of all electricity produced in the country). To  implement the project on December 20, 2014, the relevant  Intergovernmental Agreement was signed, and on February 5, 2015 - the  Agreement on the provision of a loan to finance the project. In  December 2016, the first stage of the project was completed - the  Russian side carried out a comprehensive survey of the power unit No.  2, developed and handed over to the Armenian customer the program for  the preparation of the power unit for an additional period of  operation, including the schedule of work. Currently, the plant is  scheduled to preventive repairs, and for 2018-2019 a large amount of  construction and commissioning is planned, including upgrading of  cooling towers, turbine unit, control and safety systems, and other  elements of the plant.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Likhachev noted  that Russia has a rich practical experience in the implementation of  such programs and understands the importance of the project to extend  the life of the station from the point of view of ensuring the  country's energy security. "In fact, a deep modernization of  Armenia's nuclear facilities will be carried out. Our common goal  today is to move clearly on the agreed schedule, observing the  unconditional priority of the quality of work and safety  requirements," said the head of Rosatom.