TRANSFERRING MANAGEMENT OF ARMENIAN NUCLEAR PLANT TO RUSSIA TO BE SOLVED BY YEAR END

PanARMENIAN.Net - The issue of transferring accredited management of the Armenian nuclear power plant to the Russian ministry of atomic energy will be finally solved before the end of the year. Armenian minister of energy Armen Movsisian told "Arminfo" agency. In his words, the transfer scheme will be discussed in Yerevan in the course of the sitting of the Armenian-Russian commission on economic cooperation February 4. The subject was also discussed at the recent meeting of Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov and Armenian president Robert Kocharian in Moscow, the minister said. He noted that the parties had not agreed upon anything yet, thus denying reports on the intention to pass the station management to "UES" Russian company. The terms of transferring the management of the station, issue of debts and accordingly the profit share, as well as tariffs of selling the electric power will in particular be discussed at the forthcoming sitting of the Armenian-Russian commission on cooperation. The minister reminded that the Armenian plant was built according to Russian projects and technologies, and was charged with Russian fuel. In his words, the scheme of cooperation, which turns to be optimal from the financial aspect "will be used." The station's remaining under the management of the Armenian party cannot be ruled out, but means to buy new nuclear fuel should be found if this is the case. The minister reminded that the debt for the fuel supplied by Russia earlier made $40 million.