Armenia's nuclear security regime robust, IAEA concludes

PanARMENIAN.Net - A team of International Atomic Energy Agency experts completed a mission to review national nuclear security practices in Armenia, IAEA website reported.

The IAEA conducted a two-week International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission at the request of Armenia’s Government. The mission reviewed the country's nuclear security-related legislative and regulatory framework for nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities and activities, as well as security arrangements applied to the transport of radioactive sources.

The team also reviewed physical protection systems at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and at three facilities where high activity sources are used or stored.

The IPPAS team concluded that Armenia's nuclear security regime is robust and that important progress has been made in enhancing nuclear security since a previous IPPAS mission in 2003. The team also identified several good practices in the national nuclear security regime and at the visited facilities. At the same time, it made recommendations and suggestions for further improvements in nuclear security.

"The development of a nuclear power programme requires a strong commitment to security. Armenia provides an example that demonstrates the value of international cooperation, the importance of applying IAEA Security Standards, and how best to make use of the Agency's advisory services," said Carlos Torres Vidal, Head of the IAEA's Nuclear Security of Materials and Facilities Section.

Ashot Martirosyan, the Chairman of Armenia's Nuclear Regulatory Authority, added: "The IPPAS mission was very useful in improving Armenia's nuclear security regime. Armenia will establish an action plan and will implement the recommendations and suggestions in the near future."

The IAEA team was led by Nancy Fragoyannis, a Senior Level Advisor for Non-proliferation and International Nuclear Security at the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It included seven experts from five countries and the IAEA.

While in Yerevan, the team met officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (State Committee for Nuclear Safety Regulation under the Armenian Government); the National Security Service; the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources; and the Foreign Ministry and the National Police. They also visited the Armenian NPP; the radioactive waste facility "Rendering Harmless of Radioactive Wastes" CJSC; and the "National Centre of Oncology after V.A. Fanarjyan."