Center for Nuclear Safety and Criminal Science to open in Armenia
13.10.2017,
15:20
The Center for Nuclear Safety and Criminal Science will open in Armenia, Samvel Harutyunyan, the chairman of the State Committee for Science of the Ministry of Education and Science, told journalists on Friday.
YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. The Center for Nuclear Safety and Criminal Science will open in Armenia, Samvel Harutyunyan, the chairman of the State Committee for Science of the Ministry of Education and Science, told journalists on Friday. He said the Center is part of the Armenian-US cooperation, reached during a visit to the United States in 2017 February by an Armenian delegation that comprised also top managers of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
According to him, in cooperation with the State Polytechnic University of Armenia a joint research laboratory has already been launched at the Armenian NPP. "The main task of the Center will be the examination of nuclear waste, transportation of nuclear elements from Armenia. The Center will also conduct research, training and retraining of personnel," Harutyunyan said.
He said also a US delegation is expected to arrive in Armenia on October 18 to look into what has been done and to outline future action with Armenian counterparts.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. Its second VVER 440-V230 light-water reactor was reactivated in 1995 and is still operating. Armenian authorities said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging facility. The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. The plant currently generates some 35 percent of Armenia's electricity.
In March 2014, Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life because of delay in building a new unit. The service life extension has become possible thanks to Russia’s financial resources. The country was to provide $270 million to Armenia as loan and $30 million in grants. --0---
According to him, in cooperation with the State Polytechnic University of Armenia a joint research laboratory has already been launched at the Armenian NPP. "The main task of the Center will be the examination of nuclear waste, transportation of nuclear elements from Armenia. The Center will also conduct research, training and retraining of personnel," Harutyunyan said.
He said also a US delegation is expected to arrive in Armenia on October 18 to look into what has been done and to outline future action with Armenian counterparts.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. Its second VVER 440-V230 light-water reactor was reactivated in 1995 and is still operating. Armenian authorities said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging facility. The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. The plant currently generates some 35 percent of Armenia's electricity.
In March 2014, Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life because of delay in building a new unit. The service life extension has become possible thanks to Russia’s financial resources. The country was to provide $270 million to Armenia as loan and $30 million in grants. --0---
