ArmInfo.December 22 is the Day of Energy in Armenia. This year it coincided with half a centuryanniversary of the Armenian nuclear energy. Correspondent tells about the achievements and problems that Armenian energy industry has faced today. ArmInfo President of the Union of Nuclear Power Veterans of Armenia, in 1993-2002, General Director of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant Suren AzatyanOur share, says Suren Grantovich, had a happy fate in the creation and development of the country's nuclear power industry.
Being still the head of the ANPP shop, for example, I was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor for the successful launch in 1977 of unit No. 1.
In 1995, fororganization of the restoration of the operation of unit 2, awarded the "Honorary Certificate" of the RA Government, the Gold Medal and the Diploma of the Union of Industrialists of the Republic of Armenia, and according to the results of the contest "CIS_Director of the Year 1998"> entered the top 100 industry and science countries of the Commonwealth. In 1993, we initiated the development of a concept for restarting Unit 2. To determine the remaining resource, the main condition for further action was the co- production of the Izhora plant. Until now, my colleagues and I admire the skill of the Izhora who created a high-quality reactor, whose casing was already nine years and three months functioning reliably under the influence of neutron flux in the transitional periods of the start-up period, and also survived the terrible Spitak earthquake, all the negative effects of the water chemical and standby mode. We made every effort to resume its work, together with the IAEA experts re-conducted a detailed survey of all equipment not subject to replacement.
As a result, Izhora, as a manufacturer, Gidropress, as general designer, and general designer of NiAEP, passed the world-wide exam, since after the Chernobyl accident, they proved the competitiveness of the nuclear industry of the Russian and post-Soviet space after the Chernobyl accident.Already on November 5, 1995, with the tacit consent of the "opponents", for the first time in world history, the second power unit of the ANPP was re-commissioned; after the earthquake, it was in mothballed form for six and a half years. At the station, a lot of work was done on the implementation of the latest safety systems in accordance with the scientific and technical documentation and the rules tightened after the accidents at Trimay Island and Chernobyl NPPs.
It was an unprecedented example of cooperation, where, to our happiness, there was an absolute coincidence of interests and motivations. Independent Armenia overcame the energy crisis and prevented a devastating environmental disaster. And Russia straightened its wings and entered the international market of nuclear energy, having a good base in engineering, in the fuel component, in engineering, in design and construction, and, very importantly, with all elements of the technological chain, ranging from the extraction of natural uranium to the output NPPs are out of service with proven reference experience.Currently, projects such as decommissioning, extending the time frame or building new units, processing or disposing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste are complex and cover a wide range of problems related to safety culture, ecology, non-proliferation of nuclear technologies. To implement these ambitious programs it is necessary to mobilize the full potential of specialists. To increase the effectiveness of such important measures, we need stronger tools and the interest of current officials of the operating organizations. This alignment of relationships requires a clear formalization, and yet - everyone should clearly understand that, in addition to knowledge and requirements, there are also irreplaceable, hidden knowledge of memory. It is about luminaries, on whose shoulders infinite responsibility at that time of the formation of the most complex technologies of the peaceful atom - the only one in our region. Among them, AA. Petrosyants, A.P. Nevsky, A.N. Grigoryants, L.M. Voronin, LD Ryabev, A.A. Abagyan, V.N Arzumanyan, F.Kh. Hakobjanyan andB.V. Antonov and many others.Our generation took the baton from them with great responsibility and gratitude from them. It is our generation that is not only activelyparticipated in the pre-launch stages of the development of the capacity of blocks NN 1 and 2 in the 70s, but also during the restart of the block N2 in the years of the hardest trials, ensuring the safety of the block for 23 years already at the highest level.
Today they continue to make their own contribution, including in the implementation of the program to extend the life of the N2 unit, passing on their knowledge and experience to the young employees of the station. I must say that a lot of work has been done in this direction. The processes that have taken place in recent months cannot but inspire optimism. It is necessary to attract and trust highly educated youth to the development of the country. But at the same time, it is extremely important to prevent the gap of generations with the maximum use of unique experience and knowledge, without which it is impossible to make a leap in the economic development of the state. It is important, for example, to determine the development vectors, learn how to earn in the foreign market, develop long-term programs, based on promising state strategic targets. It is also necessary to turn strategic declarations and slogans into medium- term and as specific as possible plans of activity that are understandable to each station employee. It is important to realize the seriousness of this situation, taking institutional decisions, take into account all the subtleties and measures for full implementation in practical life.
It is necessary to solve all these problems now, and the Union of Nuclear Power Veterans is ready to provide the necessary assistance. Using the capabilities of the Union, which is a member of the International Union of Veterans of Atomic Energy and Industry, will allow solving a whole cluster of issues. With the involvement of foreign partners, more than 20 different programs are being implemented that may be useful for Armenia. No need to reinvent the wheel, all these programs can be adapted to the conditions of the country. Moreover, without the participation of the Russian side, all these and other projects in the field of nuclear energy are no longer meaningful. It is necessary not only to continue cooperation with Russia, but also to increase it, especially since there is no language barrier or other problems. On this day, on behalf of the Union, I appeal to all the power engineers of the country with congratulations and best wishes. I also congratulate all my colleagues and partners on the upcoming 2019 with the wishes of good luck, success and prosperity.