Serzh Sargsyan: Maintenance and development of nuclear energy continues to be a strategic direction for Armenia

ArmInfo. The maintenance and development of nuclear energy continues to be a strategic direction for Armenia. This was stated by the Head of the Armenian state Serzh Sargsyan on October 27 at a meeting of the Council for the Safety of Atomic Energy under the President of Armenia.

He pointed to the program approved in 2015 for the modernization of the Armenian nuclear power plant, which provides for the extension of the lifetime of the second power unit until 2036. The President stressed that in the presence of an atomic power station in the structure of production of basic electricity, Armenia will provide the necessary level of energy security. "The block is envisaged to be prolonged until 2027, during this period of time to carry out the phased construction of a new nuclear unit," the Armenian leader said. In order to implement the project, the governments of Armenia and Russia concluded agreements on the attraction of a state export credit and a grant.

Within the framework of the program, measures are taken to improve the security level and upgrade the unit. In the course of scheduled maintenance work in 2017, the first stage of work to extend the life of the ANPP was completed, as well as a comprehensive survey of the main equipment.

As Serzh Sargsyan said, within the framework of technical assistance of the European Union, a strategy for managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel was developed, as a result of which the Convention on Management of Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel was revised. The President of the Republic of Armenia approved the revised Convention in January 2017. Already developed, and on October 5 this year.  The government approved the strategy for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.  In this context, a second national report is being finalized, which will be submitted to the IAEA before the end of 2017. It is planned that the new structure - the national operator - will deal with the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

The President informed that in September 2016 the final version of the expert assessment of the stress test of the Armenian NPP was presented, the results of which are included in the program of activities for the implementation of the project for the extension of the second power unit of the ANPP. Armenia also carries out activities on the advice and proposals submitted to the IAEA.

In order to ensure safe operation of the plant, the head of the Armenian state indicated the importance of a full-fledged upgrade of equipment for simulators. The first stage of work in this direction was completed in January of this year; currently work is under way to prepare for the second stage, in connection with which a tender is announced. The Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources was instructed to implement these activities as soon as possible.

"We attach special importance to the training of personnel for the nuclear power industry of Armenia, and the involvement of young specialists in this sphere is a vital necessity, thus ensuring the continuity of generations." Training is the most important task, the solution of which will assist in maintaining the existing infrastructure in the country, the RA President said. He also stressed the importance of the coordinated work of the Armenian NPP with the State Committee for Regulation of Nuclear Safety of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian nuclear power plant consists of two units with Soviet (Russian) WWER reactors. The first unit was commissioned in 1976, the second - in 1980. In March 1989, after the Spitak earthquake, which killed 25 thousand people, the station's work was stopped. In November 1995, in connection with the most acute energy crisis, the second power unit of the station with a capacity of 407.5 MW was involved. In March 2014, the Armenian government decided to extend the life of the second power unit by 10 years - until 2026. The project is coordinated by the subsidiary structure of the State Corporation Rosatom - JSC Rusatom Service. Completion of work is planned for 2019. The Government of the Russian Federation allocated a $ 270 million state export loan to Armenia and a $ 30 million grant for these purposes. In March 2015, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) was established to implement the program. So far, there have been five meetings of the JCC. The Council for the Safety of Atomic Energy under the President of the Republic of Armenia was established in 1996 by a presidential decree. This independent advisory body was created on the basis of the need to ensure the further safe operation of the Armenian nuclear power plant. The council is formed of scientists and specialists of the sphere, having international recognition and authority. The activities of the Council are carried out through meetings of the Council, which are convened once a year. According to the Charter, the main tasks of the Council are:  formation of safety of nuclear energy and priority directions of its development, development of recommendations on problems and preparation of proposals, analysis and examination of draft normative legal acts submitted to the President of the Republic of Armenia on peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy.