Construction of new unit for Armenian nuclear power plant planned to be launched in 2012

Yerevan, September 2, /ARKA/. The construction of a new unit for Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is planned to be launched in 2012, and preparations for the construction in 2011, Areg Galstyan, Armenian deputy energy minister, said Tuesday at a news conference.

Armenia plans to build a new 1000-megawatt unit. The construction is estimated to cost $5 billion. “The construction is believed to last five years,” Galsyan said.

He said that investments in the construction would be repaid within 20 years, and “this is a very reasonable term”.

The deputy minister said that Russia would finance 20% of the construction.

Armenia will invest as much as it can. The government is now searching for other investors. Galstyan said that the government would announce a tender soon for choosing a contractor.

He stressed that the new unit would constitute a new-generation nuclear plant with a strong security and limited emissions to the atmosphere.

More than that – the unit will have a long operation life – up to 60 years, instead of former 30. Besides, it will be shielded from possible fall of an aircraft on its.

The unit will also use far less water for cooling systems.

Some 5,300 people will be involved in the construction and 800 to 900 will be employed for its future operation.

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant sits near Metsamor (20 or 30 kilometers south of Yerevan).

The plant started functioning in 1976, and now only the second, 407.5-megawatt unit operates.

INTER RAO UES belonging to Russian state-owned Rosatom runs the plant’s funds from 2003 and will run them until 2013. Specialists say the plant can operate until