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Armenian government releases terms to shut down Metsamor NPP

23 March 2013 17:03 (UTC +04:00)

National Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan said that Metsamor NPP could be closed only after the construction of the new power block.

To him, the issue on conservation of the NPP will be considered after the new modern power block is commissioned.

Note that, Armenian government wants to build a new station on the site. For now, the talk is about the construction of a power block with a capacity of 1000 MW.

‘The issue on soonest closure of NPP isn’t on the agenda. It is regularly sounded wish of EU. Until we are provided with alternative energy sources, we can not take such a step,’ said Baghdasaryan.

Remind that, head of EU representation in Armenia Trayan Khristea noted that the EU insists on shutting down Metsamor NPP in a short time.

However, Armenian government made a decision to extend the term of operation of Metsamor NPP for 10 years.

Metsamor opened in 1976 and sits on earthquake-prone terrain near a residential area. It was closed due to the 1988 earthquake in Spitak. In 1995 the Armenian government reopened the plant due to the energy crisis in the country.