Armenia to offer Turkey participation in nuclear plant project
The Armenian government intends to offer Turkey the
opportunity to participate in the construction of its nuclear power
plant, a multi-billion-dollar project that Yerevan plans to launch
soon, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has said.
Sarkisian claimed that construction of a new nuclear plant was not only of economic but also of political significance.
"This project could play an important stabilizing role in the region. We want neighboring Turkey to take part in building the power station, along with our strategic partner Russia."
Sarkisian said tests required to start the project, which is valued at $4-6 billion, had already begun. The power plant is set to be built by 2016.
Turkey has yet to respond to the Armenian premier`s statement, but the Russian media have maintained that Ankara thinks positively of the proposal.
"The government of Turkey is anticipating an official appeal on participation in the atomic power plant from Armenian official circles," Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper) quoted an undisclosed Turkish government source as saying. "Only after that the Turkish side may consider the prospect of participating in the project and announce its decision. If all the issues involved are complied with, Yerevan`s proposal may be accepted."
The issue of constructing a nuclear power plant in Armenia has been under discussion for several years. As is known, the existing Metsamor facility, located outside the capital, is dilapidated and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Union and other international groups are insisting it be shutdown. The power station, which consists of two blocks and has a capacity of 815 MWt, was commissioned in 1976 and was a key source of electricity for Armenia in the Soviet times. Along with meeting domestic demand, power generated at the facility was exported to Turkey as well as to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
After sustaining considerable damage in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in 1988, the operation of the power station was suspended. However, after lengthy talks with international representatives, Armenia managed to put one of the blocks, with 407MWt capacity, back into operation in 1995. Today, the facility meets half of the country`s demand for electricity. Since 2003, it has been managed and virtually owned by Russian giants Inter RAO ES and Rosatom.
The EU has called for the close-down of the Metsamor power station by 2010-2011, while Yerevan hopes for assistance from the organization of $1 billion in exchange for its closure.
Meanwhile, the U.S. decided to help Armenia with the construction of a new power plant. According to a document signed, Washington will allocate $2m for the preparation of a feasibility study under the project.
Joseph Pennington, the U.S. charge d`affaires in Yerevan, said Washington, which has long been pressing for the closure of Metsamor`s sole reactor, supports the ambitious idea and will help Yerevan put it into practice.
"The U.S. government supports the building of a new plant not only to improve Armenia`s energy security but also because of continuing concerns regarding the safety of the existing nuclear plant," Pennington said. "We look forward to the rapid replacement of the Metsamor facility with a more modern and safer plant."
The diplomat said it would be premature to speak of the financing issue but added that Washington could help Yerevan find a source.
Sarkisian claimed that construction of a new nuclear plant was not only of economic but also of political significance.
"This project could play an important stabilizing role in the region. We want neighboring Turkey to take part in building the power station, along with our strategic partner Russia."
Sarkisian said tests required to start the project, which is valued at $4-6 billion, had already begun. The power plant is set to be built by 2016.
Turkey has yet to respond to the Armenian premier`s statement, but the Russian media have maintained that Ankara thinks positively of the proposal.
"The government of Turkey is anticipating an official appeal on participation in the atomic power plant from Armenian official circles," Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper) quoted an undisclosed Turkish government source as saying. "Only after that the Turkish side may consider the prospect of participating in the project and announce its decision. If all the issues involved are complied with, Yerevan`s proposal may be accepted."
The issue of constructing a nuclear power plant in Armenia has been under discussion for several years. As is known, the existing Metsamor facility, located outside the capital, is dilapidated and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Union and other international groups are insisting it be shutdown. The power station, which consists of two blocks and has a capacity of 815 MWt, was commissioned in 1976 and was a key source of electricity for Armenia in the Soviet times. Along with meeting domestic demand, power generated at the facility was exported to Turkey as well as to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
After sustaining considerable damage in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in 1988, the operation of the power station was suspended. However, after lengthy talks with international representatives, Armenia managed to put one of the blocks, with 407MWt capacity, back into operation in 1995. Today, the facility meets half of the country`s demand for electricity. Since 2003, it has been managed and virtually owned by Russian giants Inter RAO ES and Rosatom.
The EU has called for the close-down of the Metsamor power station by 2010-2011, while Yerevan hopes for assistance from the organization of $1 billion in exchange for its closure.
Meanwhile, the U.S. decided to help Armenia with the construction of a new power plant. According to a document signed, Washington will allocate $2m for the preparation of a feasibility study under the project.
Joseph Pennington, the U.S. charge d`affaires in Yerevan, said Washington, which has long been pressing for the closure of Metsamor`s sole reactor, supports the ambitious idea and will help Yerevan put it into practice.
"The U.S. government supports the building of a new plant not only to improve Armenia`s energy security but also because of continuing concerns regarding the safety of the existing nuclear plant," Pennington said. "We look forward to the rapid replacement of the Metsamor facility with a more modern and safer plant."
The diplomat said it would be premature to speak of the financing issue but added that Washington could help Yerevan find a source.
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