Armenia to make another in-depth look into Metsamor safe operation: prime minister
17.03.2011,
23:17
Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said today in Brussels that the authorities in Yerevan will make another in-depth look into the safe operation of Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant.
YEREVAN, March 17, /ARKA/. Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said today in Brussels that the authorities in Yerevan will make another in-depth look into the safe operation of Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant.
He made the remarks when speaking at European Parliament’s committee on foreign relations, the government press office said. Some local environmental organizations renewed their concerns about the plant’s safety pointing to the disaster at a nuclear power plant in Japan following a devastating earthquake and tsunami.
‘The tragedy in Japan has made this issue more urgent. Naturally we are considering what we can do additionally to raise the safety of Metsamor plant,’ Tigran Sarkisian said in response to a committee member question.
The Metsamor plant, which accounts for about 40 percent of Armenia's electricity, has undergone numerous safety upgrades since being reactivated in 1995. According to government figures, Armenia has received $130 million worth of assistance from the United States, the European Union, Russia and other international bodies to upgrade the plant’s safety. The plant located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan, was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988 that killed some 25,000 people and devastated much of northern Armenia.
One of its two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was reactivated in 1995. Armenian authorities said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging Metsamor plant. The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. -0-
He made the remarks when speaking at European Parliament’s committee on foreign relations, the government press office said. Some local environmental organizations renewed their concerns about the plant’s safety pointing to the disaster at a nuclear power plant in Japan following a devastating earthquake and tsunami.
‘The tragedy in Japan has made this issue more urgent. Naturally we are considering what we can do additionally to raise the safety of Metsamor plant,’ Tigran Sarkisian said in response to a committee member question.
The Metsamor plant, which accounts for about 40 percent of Armenia's electricity, has undergone numerous safety upgrades since being reactivated in 1995. According to government figures, Armenia has received $130 million worth of assistance from the United States, the European Union, Russia and other international bodies to upgrade the plant’s safety. The plant located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan, was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988 that killed some 25,000 people and devastated much of northern Armenia.
One of its two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was reactivated in 1995. Armenian authorities said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging Metsamor plant. The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. -0-
