New energy minister names main priorities
22.09.2016,
15:50
Armenia’s newly appointed minister of energy and natural resources Ashot Manukyan said today the number one priority of the ministry is the modernization of the Armenian nuclear power plant.. The second priority is a comprehensive study of subsoil, he said.
YEREVAN, September 22. /ARKA/. Armenia’s newly appointed minister of energy and natural resources Ashot Manukyan said today the number one priority of the ministry is the modernization of the Armenian nuclear power plant.. The second priority is a comprehensive study of subsoil, he said. There is also a third priority - the launch of modern and innovative production facilities.
Asked about a possible restart of Nairit synthetic rubber plant in Yerevan, the minister noted he was unaware of the details of the situation and asked for a week to study the problem. At the same time, he noted that there is no plans to reshuffle the structure.
Armenia’s nuclear power plant in Metsamor was halted on September 20 midnight for the scheduled annual repair and refueling. The energy ministry said the halt will be used also for the major repair of the operating unit ‘with the aim of extending its service life period.’
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 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 due to a $270 million Russian loan and $30 million grant. --0----
Asked about a possible restart of Nairit synthetic rubber plant in Yerevan, the minister noted he was unaware of the details of the situation and asked for a week to study the problem. At the same time, he noted that there is no plans to reshuffle the structure.
Armenia’s nuclear power plant in Metsamor was halted on September 20 midnight for the scheduled annual repair and refueling. The energy ministry said the halt will be used also for the major repair of the operating unit ‘with the aim of extending its service life period.’
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 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 due to a $270 million Russian loan and $30 million grant. --0----
