World, including Armenia, not to reject nuclear power

April 20, 2011 - 18:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Despite accidents and disasters brought by nuclear power, world powers are not going to reject it. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaking at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, said that accident and the Japanese nuclear crisis do not undermine the value of nuclear power.

Yukiya Amano spoke on April 20 at the site of the world's worst nuclear accident. He was accompanied by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Amano said many countries will continue to find nuclear power an important option for energy diversification but that the global community must do its utmost to ensure its safety. Armenia is not going to renounce the plans on constructing a new energy unit either.

The operating second energy unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant generates 50% of Armenia's electricity.

“The Armenian authorities numerously stated that the situation at Japanese Fukushima will not affect implementation of the country’s energy policy. The program envisages construction of a new energy unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, and it should be constructed,” Chairman of the State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Commitее Ashot Martirosyan said.

Nevertheless, the world's nuclear community is seriously concerned over safety of operating nuclear power plants, due to which a special test on thorough study of nukes safety was developed by Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association (WENRA).

Armenian has also launched this procedure, the results of which will be presented in September 2011.

Besides, IAEA expert group will be in Armenia on May 15-June 1 to study the level of the Armenian NPP safe exploitation on site.

Despite regular statements of our neighbors, including Azerbaijan, on “necessity to shut down the NPP,” Armenia is not going to react to similar declarations.