OSART experts arrive in Armenia for review of its nuclear power plant’s operational safety
16.05.2011,
20:20
A spokesperson for Armenian ministry of energy and natural resources told ARKA today that a delegation of the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) acting under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA), have arrived today in Armenia f
YEREVAN, May 16. / ARKA /. A spokesperson for Armenian ministry of energy and natural resources told ARKA today that a delegation of the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) acting under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA), have arrived today in Armenia for a two-week review of the operational safety of Armenia’s nuclear power plant in Metsamor. Lusine Harutyunian said the delegation is made up of leading nuclear energy experts from nine countries.
Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said earlier that following the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima plant he had instructed the ministry of energy and natural resources and all other stokeholds to make a through review of the plant’s operational safety.
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.
The financial flows of the plant were handed to trust management of Russian Inter RAO UES company, in which 57.3% is owned by Russian Nuclear Energy Agency Rosatom. The trust management agreement expires in 2013 September. -0-
Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said earlier that following the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima plant he had instructed the ministry of energy and natural resources and all other stokeholds to make a through review of the plant’s operational safety.
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.
The financial flows of the plant were handed to trust management of Russian Inter RAO UES company, in which 57.3% is owned by Russian Nuclear Energy Agency Rosatom. The trust management agreement expires in 2013 September. -0-
