Armenia wants to extend life of nuclear plant until 2036March 18, 2021 - 13:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia wants to extend the operating life of its Metsamor nuclear power plant for additional 10 years until 2036, director of the plant Movses Vardanyan told reporters on Thursday, March 18. Attending a conference marking the 55th anniversary of atomic energy production in the country, Vardanyan said Armenia is going to extend the service life of the NPP, based on the experience of other countries. The Director of the plant also spoke of possible risks of non-extension as he said the process is a technological one. He added, however, that "Russian companies do have such experience with their blocks, we hope that the risk factor is too small to cause any problems." Vardanyan also revealed that the plant will stop working for 141 days beginning from May 15, to make room for security enhancement work. The plant supplies approximately 40 percent of Armenia's electricity. At some point, Armenia was considering the construction of a new nuclear unit. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |