Minister: The program implemented at the Armenian NPP will increase electricity generation by 10%

ArmInfo. Yerevan. Implemented at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant program to extend the life of the second power unit will increase production of electricity from this generation facility by 10%. At the same time, the share of nuclear power in the total volume of electricity produced in the country in 2020-2021 will reach 40-42% against 33% at present. The Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Manukyan stated this on March 21 from the rostrum of the National Assembly of Armenia, responding to the request of the faction of the opposition bloc "Elk".

As the minister noted, after the implementation of the program the station will be able to provide the republic with electricity for several years. After this, it will be necessary to conduct research on the possible new extension of its life. In this context, it is not necessary to talk about the possibility of building a new nuclear power unit, when there is an operating unit that can be operated safely and uninterruptedly a few more. Atomic technologies in the world, the minister continued, develop very quickly. If five years ago only two alternative options for the construction of a new block were considered in Armenia, today we are talking about five, which are much cheaper, safer and more reliable. Therefore, the government's decision was clear - to continue the operation of the new unit as much as the resource will allow. Only then will a decision be made about the technologies and the type of the new unit.  "I cannot imagine the development of Armenia's energy sector without nuclear power," the minister said.

The minister did not assume the responsibility to assert that the atomic industry will work all 10 years.  Answering the question of how much the unit will be operated, Manukyan referred to the fact that this will depend on the conclusions of the IAEA, the SC Rosatom, as well as specialists with international authority.  "Only they will answer this question," the minister said. And, Ashot Manukyan continued, it will happen in late 2019 - early 2020, when preliminary data will be given.

Previously reported on the possibility of extending the life of the nuclear power plant up to 2040. The Armenian nuclear power plant consists of two units with Soviet (Russian) WWER reactors.