World Bank to provide Armenia with $1.5 million grant for Nairit  plant dismantling and land reclamation

ArmInfo. Armenia will receive $1.5 million from the World Bank (WB) for the dismantling of the Nairit  chemical plant and  subsequent chemical cleaning of the soil. During a regular session on June 26, the Cabinet of Ministers of Armenia approved a proposal to sign a grant-letter agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, the main lending institution of the World Bank) to prepare a program for the restoration and regeneration of the environment of the enterprise.

The MoU on nature restoration and land  reclamation at the plant site proposes to implement a multi-phase  programmatic approach, which will consist of 4 phases, namely: Phase  1 - preparation, site selection and chemical cleaning and removal,  Phase 2 - legal, financial and urban planning, phases 1 and 2 can be  implemented in parallel, Phase 3 - dismantling and demolition of the  plant, Phase 4 - restoration of soil and/or groundwater.

On March 3-7, 2025, the WB conducted an assessment mission in  Yerevan. As a result, MTAI received a draft memorandum "Program for  Cleaning and Reconstruction of the Site of the Armenia - Nairit  plant", which outlines further steps to  neutralize chemicals and  equipment at the plant, as well as perform  land reclamation work.  The draft  agreement between RA and the WB envisages the provision of  a grant of 1.5 million US dollars for the proposed investment  operation aimed at improving the environment of the territory of  Nairit Plant CJSC. The purpose of the activity is to facilitate the  preparation of the project to eliminate risks to public health and  the environment.