Armenian government extends nuclear plant operation

April 19, 2012 - 12:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The government of Armenia approved at its April 19 session the decision to extend the term of operation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant’s 2nd unit.

Armen Movsisyan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said the unit’s operation license expires on September 1, 2016, while its current operation needs to be prolonged for 4 years in view of a delay in new energy bloc construction.

In this regard, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan mentioned that this issue is much speculated on by the media, “while the government’s functions in this area are quite transparent”.

According to PM Sargsyan, the government officially addressed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for assistance in extending the term of current unit’s operation and construction of a new one.

“IAEA delegation is in Armenia now, with these issues on the agenda,” Sargsyan said, adding that Armenia will receive relevant support from the international agency.