Deputy Minister: Armenian NPP will be closed in case if replacement capacities are created

ArmInfo. The Armenian nuclear power plant will be closed if replacement capacities are created. On April 10, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Karen Nazaryan stated this from the rostrum of the parliament, answering the question of the deputy speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mikael Melkumian about the future fate of the station.

Karen Nazaryan stressed that the agreement with the EU "On Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership" stipulates a provision on bilateral cooperation in the energy sector based on the principles of mutual benefit, transparency and predictability. The parties agreed to develop a "roadmap" for the decommissioning of the second power unit of the ANPP. It is also stipulated that the station can be closed only if replacement capacities are created. Moreover, we are talking about replacing the capacity of the current unit with the capacities of the new unit. "This is not our desire, it is a requirement of the Strategy for the Development of the Energy System of Armenia," the Deputy Minister noted, adding that there are no other requirements, including the immediate closure of the station in the document.

In his turn, Mikael Melkumyan once again pointed to the need for an early decision on the new bloc. He recalled that in At present, the Armenian NPP is implementing a $ 300 million credit program aimed at extending the life of the second unit for 10 years. "During this period, it was initially planned to build a unit with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, then 600 megawatts, now we are talking about small modular units with a capacity of 50 megawatts." The government should decide this issue as quickly as possible, "the vice speaker said.

Earlier, answering the question of ArmInfo, deputy head of the European Union's bilateral relations with the Eastern Partnership countries, Dirk Lorenz said that the European Union continues to insist on the early closure of the Armenian nuclear power plant, since it is impossible even to upgrade its security level to international standards even by modernization. At the same time, he said, Brussels understands the importance of the Armenian NPP in ensuring Armenia's energy security, and this fact is taken into account by the European Union. Currently, the EU and its Armenian partners are working to improve the safety of the station. After the tragic consequences of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the EU initiated stress tests at the EU nuclear power plants, Armenia carried out a similar stress test. "Now it is important to implement the results of this stress test, it is also important to actively develop energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energy. If you save and use little energy, then less you will need energy in the future, "stressed Dirk Lorenz.

The Armenian nuclear power plant consists of two units with Soviet (Russian) WWER reactors. The first unit was commissioned in 1976, the second - in 1980. In March 1989, after the Spitak earthquake, which killed 25 thousand people, the station's work was stopped. In November 1995, in connection with the most acute energy crisis, the second power unit of the station with a capacity of 407.5 MW was involved. In March 2014, the Armenian government decided to extend the lifetime of the second power unit by 10 years - until 2027. The project is coordinated by the subsidiary structure of the State Corporation Rosatom - JSC Rusatom Service. Completion of work is planned for 2019. The Government of the Russian Federation allocated a $ 270 million state export loan to Armenia and a grant of $ 30 million for these purposes.