ARMENIA TO BUILD NEW NUCLEAR POWER UNIT IN 2013
Interfax
Dec 22 2011
Russia
Armenia plans to start construction of a new nuclear power unit in
2013, Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan
said at a press conference Thursday.
“We will began construction of the energy unit in 2013,” the minister
said, adding that before construction could begin the project had to
be prepared and funding resolved.
The new reactor will replace the existing unit, he said. If necessary,
Armenia will extend the operation of the existing unit, projected
resources of which expire in 2016.
The Armenia NPP accounts for around 40% of the electricity generated
in the country. The power plant has two VVER-440 reactors with 815
megawatt capacity. Only one reactor with 404 megawatt capacity is
in use.
Armenia plans to build a new reactor with 1060 megawatt capacity
by 2017 and it will mothball the existing unit. The construction
project for the new unit will be put together by Russian-Armenian
joint venture Metsamorenergatom, established on a 50/50 basis by
Armenian and Russia’s Atomstroyeport.
Armenia NPP was transferred to Inter RAO UES (RTS: IRAO) for financial
management. Movsisyan was cited as saying that Inter RAO would end
its financial management of the plant on January 1 2012.