EcoLur
EcoLur Information NGO has sent an enquiry to Suren Papikyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure (TAI) in regard to RA "Strategic Development Plan for the Energy Sector of the Republic of Armenia (till 2040)", in particular, on the regulation of security issues related to nuclear energy and the construction of a new nuclear power unit.
The text of the enquiry says,
“"Based on Article 4 of RA Law on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plant(s) in the Republic of Armenia and Article 6 of RA Law on Freedom of Information, please provide information on the following issues of interest to us:
Whether security risk assessment has been carried out in connection with the closedown of ANPP Unit 2 and what the results are? Whether state audit of $270 million loan and $30 million grant intended for upgrading, modernization and security of the Nuclear Power Plant provided by the Russian Federation has been carried out and what outcomeshave been achieved? Will the remainder of that amount be sufficient for the safe operation of the ANPP by 2027, or will a new loan be required?
According to protocol decision 54 of RA Government dated on December 10 2015 on approving the long-term (up to 2036) development paths of the Armenian energy system envisages the construction of a new 600 MW nuclear power plant as an economically and technically justified option, with the beginning of 2018. The “Strategic Plan for Development of Energy Sector of the Republic of Armenia (until 2040)” does not specify when the construction of the new nuclear power unit will launch.
In this regard, please provide information on the following matters:
• From what date will the construction of the new nuclear power unit begin, what investment financing agreement has been reached, and with whom, private, state, international banks?
• In the scenario of the planned construction of a new Nuclear Power Plant in the Republic of Armenia, what solutions are proposed for the safe operation of the plant when the current Nuclear Power Plant 2 cooling water deficit (Sevjur River and Akna Litch) is already available as a result of lowering of groundwater horizons.
Atomic energy security issues
4. Are the sites of long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste selected, are the seismic and groundwater impacts of those sites assessed, and are international norms set aside for burial sites and adjacent settlements?
Has the Government developed new safeguards for the long-term impact of the ANPP? Was the component of the socio-economic developments of the communities adjacent to the atomic energy facilities considered in the Atomic Energy Development Vision?
Has the Government considered the issue of the allocation of community budget funds for the purpose of radiation safety expenditures of the ANPP area residents or the issue of making the ANPP or State budget funds /Clause 3 of Decision Regulation No 679 of Government of the Republic of Armenia of 25 October 2000 "On Approval of the Procedure for Providing the Population with Personal Protection Measures"/.
What measures has the Government taken to give the NPP settlements the status of an 'impacted' community/residential area and to receive financial support thereafter? Have the issues and regulations of environmental and radiation level monitoring, transparency of their results and provision of information to the population been observed in the communities of the atomic energy impact zone? ”
January 17, 2020 at 12:38