ARMENIAN EXTENDS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT’S OPERATION
WJTV
April 19 2012
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) The Armenian government has decided to extend
the operation of the country’s sole nuclear power plant until a new
nuclear reactor is built.
The landlocked and impoverished ex-Soviet nation depends on the
Medzamor plant for nearly half of its energy consumption. The
Soviet-built plant was to be shut down in 2016, but the Cabinet
ruled Thursday that it should remain operational for a few extra
years until its replacement enters service.
It said the authorities would take additional measures to strengthen
the plant’s safety.
The new reactor being built by Russia is to become operational in
2019-2020.
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said he had discussed the issue with
Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency,
a U.N. nuclear watchdog, who is currently visiting Armenia.