Armenian NPP to resume operation in early December
02.11.2012,
18:36
Armenia’s nuclear power plant in Metsamor will resume operation in early December. The plant was halted on September 15 for a partial refuelling and regular repairs, Ashot Martirosian, head of the State Nuclear Safety Committee, said to a news conference today.
YEREVAN, November 2. / ARKA /. Armenia’s nuclear power plant in Metsamor will resume operation in early December. The plant was halted on September 15 for a partial refuelling and regular repairs, Ashot Martirosian, head of the State Nuclear Safety Committee, said to a news conference today.
"The plant was halted for 85 days, but judging by the pace of repair and refueling it is very likely to resume operation earlier than planned, probably, in early December," Martirosian said.
He said cassettes with nuclear fuel have been delivered to Armenia. He said also the plant generates 2.2-2.5 billion kWh of electricity, which is 45-50% of the total electricity production in Armenia.
The plant is located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. 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. Metsamor currently generates some 40 percent of Armenia's electricity. -0-
