An Armenian nuclear power plant will receive a licence to export nuclear materials, News.am reported.
The explanatory memorandum submitted by Armenia's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to the republic's government said that currently there are seven readymade cartridges with fresh nuclear fuel which were imported to the station some time ago.
Three were imported in 1979 and four in 1987. The cartridges had some drawbacks resulting in them being impossible to use. Their storage in the Armenian NPP causes some difficulties. Currently, the Armenian NPP signed an agreement with Russian TVEL JSC on their transportation to Russia.
The issue of giving the licence is included in the September 13th agenda of the Armenian government.
Metsamor NPP was built in 1970. After the devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988 it was closed, but in 1995 despite international protests, the activity of the station was resumed. Moreover, a second reactor was launched.
According to ecologists and scientists from the whole region seismic activity in the area makes the operation of the nuclear plant at Metsamor extremely risky even in the case of the construction of a new model of reactor.