EU invests EUR 12.9 million to strengthen nuclear safety, radiation  protection and radioactive waste management infrastructure in Armenia

ArmInfo. On November 28, the Government of Armenia approved the funding between the Republic of  Armenia and the European Commission on .

As stated in the explanatory note to the document, the Republic of  Armenia has developed a roadmap to ensure the timely and full  implementation of the measures defined by CEPA. In the field of  nuclear and radiation safety regulation, the plan is to align with EU  directives. Therefore, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee of the  Republic of Armenia has already initiated the development of a new  draft nuclear law that considers the relevant EU directives, WENRA  (Western European Nuclear Regulators Association) safety standards  and the safety requirements of the International Atomic Energy  Agency. The implementation of the project within the specified  funding agreement will enable the Republic of Armenia to establish an  effective nuclear safety culture, create an infrastructure and legal  framework for regulating nuclear and radiation safety in compliance  with EU directives, and WENRA requirements. This will ensure that  safety standards are met to the fullest extent possible, reflecting  advanced European experience and international criteria.

As part of the specified agreement, a program is planned  to be  implemented with the goal of developing the capabilities of the  Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Armenia and the  Technical Support Center in reviewing the periodic safety review  (PSR) of the 2nd power unit of the NPP.  It is also planned to  provide the necessary equipment for the environmental radiation  laboratory. As stated in the document, the establishment of an  environmental radiation laboratory in the territory of the Republic  of Armenia will contribute to improving the national infrastructure  for environmental radiation monitoring in Armenia. This includes  emergency response systems, monitoring of radiation sources and  acquiring modern international experience and knowledge to meet the  requirements of relevant EU directives. To implement the tasks  outlined in the agreement, the EU  will provide a maximum of EUR  12,900,000 to Armenia.