EcoLur
As it’s known, on 3 December “Rosatom” State Corporation and Energy and Natural Resources Ministry of Turkey signed a joint statement on the construction project of nuclear power plant “Akkuyu” in Mersine. The document was signed as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Istanbul and the negotiations he ran with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdoghan. Russia will completely fund the project in the amount of 20 billion USD. The Head of “Rosatom” Sergey Kirienko stated that the first power unit of “Akkuyu” NPP will be accomplished late in 2019, while the whole project will be accomplished by 2020” (a reference to ITAR TASS).
Thus, the Russian investments for the development of nuclear energy were directed to Turkey, while the issue of investments to Armenia still remains frozen.
Only within the recent year we have extremely contradicting statements of the Russian party about investment to be made in the construction of a new power unit of ANPP, starting from the promise of 50% investments and finishing with 5 billion USD, which are evidently not sufficient for the construction. Russia put Armenia into extremely tough frames undertaking the financial management of ANPP as represented by Inter RAO UES, then refusing from this management unilaterally.
Reminder: the agreement with Inter RAO UES about the trust management of 100% of shares of state Armenian NPP was concluded in 2003 in exchange of the debts for radioactive fuel. The agreement should have been valid till September 2013. In the frames of the agreement, Inter RAO UES undertook to ensure continuous and safe operation of the nuclear power plant and to supply nuclear fuel for its refuelling. Nevertheless, the agreement was terminated prematurely in March 2012 on the initiative of the Russian party.
It should be noted that all the questions connected with the risks and safety of ANPP vested on Armenia, and not Russia even when the agreement was in force. For example, because of the blockade of railway connections, processed fuel can’t be buries in the special graveyards constructed for the nuclear power plants of the USSR. Armenia has to store the processed radioactive wastes in the territory of the ANPP, i.e. in the centre of the country, Ararat Valley.
After the collapse of the USSR, Russia undertook the mission of inheritor and successor of the USSR. The Armenian NPP was constructed as a strategic object of the USSR. But so far the Russian party bears no responsibility either for security or the operation of the ANPP. A question arises; what have the Armenian authorities undertaken in this regard?
December 06, 2012 at 15:08