Azerbaijan, Baku, 6 August / Trend corr. A.Gasimova/ The United States is helping the Government of Armenia think through its options for replacing the Medzamor nuclear power station, which operation term will expire in 2016.
"The United States is helping the
Government of Armenia think through its options for replacing the Medzamor nuclear
power station by providing technical assistance in studying the feasibility of
a replacement reactor," the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza said to Trend on 6 August.
In 2006, the Government of Armenia announced that operation term of the Armenian nuclear power station will complete in 2016. Within the EU Neighbourhood Program Armenia undertook to shut down the outmoded nuclear power station as soon as possible. EU believes the Medzamor station does not correspond with up-to-date nuclear safety requirements.
According to Bryza, the U.S. Government supports efforts by nuclear power experts to study the question. He refused to comment on the specific steps Armenia should take regarding suspension of the Medzamor station.
In 2007, the United States stated its intention to help Armenia to replace the Medzamor nuclear power station into a new one. Former U.S. Vice-Ambassador in Armenia Anthony Godfrey said the United States and Armenian Energy Ministry are developing options for construction of a new station.
Medzamor nuclear power station with the capacity of 815MW consists of two blocks, first of them put into operation in 1976 and the second in 1980. After the December 1988 earthquake, the USSR Government decreed in March 1989 to stop the station. On 5 November 1995, after a break of 6.5 years, the station was launched again. The fact is unprecedented in the history of the world nuclear energy.
The Armenian Government is searching for potential foreign investors to put $1bln in construction of the new nuclear power station.
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