IAEA experts to inspect site for new unit at Armenian NPP

Forum Contacts		RUSSIAN

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED August 02, 2010

A group of experts from the International Atomic energy Agency (IAEA) will arrive on Monday in Armenia to inspect the site for the construction of a new power unit at the Armenian nuclear power plant.

Ashot Martirosyan, chairman of the State committee on nuclear security, said the IAEA officials will study the results of geological, seismological and other surveys conducted at the site since 2009.

Armenia plans to build a new 1,000-mWt power unit at the existing Armenian nuclear plant. The construction is scheduled to start in 2011 and the new unit is expected do become operational by 2017.

The only currently operational unit at the NPP must be shut down by that time, the official said.

The Armenian NPP, which is located 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) from the capital, Yerevan, was put in service in 1980 and shut down in March 1989 following a powerful earthquake in December 1988 that killed at least 25,000 people.

The NPP became operational again in 1995 to provide electricity during a severe energy crisis in the country. At present, only one out of two power units remains active, producing up to 50% of all electricity in the former Soviet republic.

Experts estimate that the unit could work safely until at least 2016.

Topics: NPP, Asia, Armenia, IAEA

Other news:

The tender leaves in the sky

The Temelin tender promises to be the most fun of all tenders for the construction of nuclear facilities.

Russia signs deal with Ukraine on finishing Khmelnytsky NPP

The project will cost $5-6 billion. The funds would be allocated by Russia.

Russia, France strike nuclear cooperation deal

The agreement was signed between Sergei Kiriyenko and Bernard Bigot.

Hero of the day

Obama nuclear summit: A minor success

Further proof of this fact was provided by Obama Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington on April 12-13. However, this goal is unlikely to be achieved in four years.

INTERVIEW

Christophe Behar
We are preparing now a review of these design options and the decision has to be made in 2012, by the public authorities. ASTRID basic and detailed design will be launched afterwards.

OPINION

AtomInfo.Ru
The cavalry is arrived on the Temelin tender in the Czech Republic. After the first round of bidding, three dozen companies are dropped out who have taken tender documents just to read.