EcoLur
Garegin Baghramyan, Acting Minister for Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, doesn't exclude that the lifetime of the second power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant can be extended for several years. The second power unit of the ANPP has been operating for 40 years. In 2016, its operation term expired: the Armenian government reached a decision to extend the lifetime of the second power unit by 2026 by conducting the re-equipment of the ANPP. Armenia has taken out a loan of 270 million USD from Russia and received a grant of 30 million USD. 'Such power stations have a practice of being developed up to 60 years. As soon as 10 years of service term expires, naturally, the reactor will undergo in-detailed examination, and if it turns out that the duration of the reactor lifetime hasn't expired, the operation will be extended for some time. The examinations will show how long it will be prolonged for,' said Garegin Baghramyan, Acting Minister for Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources said at the press conference held on 21 November. He noted that the safety of the nuclear power plant has been increased to higher standards than it used to be.
Speaking about the construction of a new nuclear power unit, Haregin Baghramyan noted, 'This matter is on our agenda: I personally think we should continue being a nuclear energy country in the future. There are nor modular power units in the international nuclear market which have low nominal capacities and they can be said to be flexible. Such nuclear power plants will be suitable for our system. The production of such modular power units will be launched in 3-5 years and naturally, we carefully follow the prices and how we can introduce such power units in Armenia.'
November 21, 2018 at 19:36