Alternate Names: Oktembryan, Medzamor, and Medsamor
Location: 28km outside of Yerevan
Administration:
In 2003, Armenia turned over financial control of Metsamor to Russia's state-owned power monopoly, Unified Energy Systems, in accordance with a swap agreement that settled the plant's $40 million debt to Russian nuclear fuel suppliers. The agreement allowed Metsamor to balance its books and secure fresh fuel deliveries.[1]
Source:
[1] Emil Danielyan, "Armenian Nuclear Plant to Function for Another Decade," Eurasia Daily Monitor, 8 August 2005.
Type: VVER-440, V-230
Units: Two
Unit 1: initial criticality 1975 (operational 12/76)
Unit 2: initial criticality 1975 (operational 12/79)
Power:
Unit 1: 240 MWe (400 MWe capacity) (shutdown)
Unit 2: 408 MWe (gross)
Sources:
[1] "Metsamor 2?," Nuclear Engineering International, November 1996, p. 8.
[2] Artyom Gorodnov, "Atomnoye stroitelstvo na territorii byvshego Soyuza prodolzhaetsya," Segodnya, 17 October 1996, p. 9.
[3] "World List of Nuclear Power Plants," Nuclear News, March 1996 p 29.
[4] IAEA PRIS, http://www.iaea.org/programmes/a2/.
Fuel: Enriched to 3.3 percent U-235
Sources:
[1] World Nuclear Industry Handbook 1992, Nuclear Engineering International, p. 24.
[2] Teresa Sabonis-Chafee, Preliminary Report on Armenia, Center for Nonproliferation Studies report, 10 May 1996.
Status: The Armenian government closed Unit 1 on 25 February 1989, and Unit 2 on 18 March 1989 following the 7 December 1988 earthquake. Unit 1 remains inactive. Unit 2 resumed operation on 26 October 1995. Unit 2 is a version of the V-230 model, also called a V-270 model, which has core reinforcements such as additional water pumps for decay heat removal in the event of seismic activity. In November 2007, the Armenian government approved a plan to shut down the plant, but did not specify a date.
Sources:
[1] "Medzamor Nuclear Plant,"Soviet Plant Source Book, Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington DC, 4th ed, 1996, p 207.
[2] "World List of Nuclear Power Plants," Nuclear News, March 1996 p. 29.
[3] Richard Wilson, "Report on the Restart of the Medzamor Nuclear Power Plant in the Republic of Armenia," Andre Sakharov Foundation, 25 July 1995, p. 1 http://www.wdn.com/asf/armnp.html.
Energy Statistics: Metsamor produces about 40% of Armenian electricity output.
["Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Lithuania," NUKEM, November 2000, p. 27.]
MPC&A: Metsamor is a member plant of the IAEA standard MPC&A system. In addition, the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Internal Affairs provide special forces for guarding a wide and a narrow perimeter around the plant, respectively. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also trains personnel to safeguard the interior of the plant.
[Teresa Sabonis-Chafee, Preliminary Report on Armenia, Center for Nonproliferation Studies report, 10 May 1996.]
Safety: The question of whether Metsamor could be safely operated was a key issue in debates over the reopening of the plant. Relatively few safety incidents have been reported since the reopening. The Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (Armgosatomnadzor) was created 16 November 1993 to license the restart of Metsamor.
Sources:
[1] Correspondence with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, Washington D.C., November 1995.
[2] Segodnya, 30 December 1993, p. 8.
[3] Source Book: Soviet Designed Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Armenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria, 4th edition, Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington D.C., 1996, p. 203.
Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste: During the Soviet era, spent fuel from Metsamor was returned to Russia for reprocessing at Mayak.[1] Since 1989, no spent fuel has left Armenia.[2,3,4] After the 1989 shutdown of the Metsamor nuclear power plant, spent fuel was temporarily transferred from the spent fuel pool to the reactor cavity.[5] In May 2005, the Armenian parliament approved the construction of a new storage site for nuclear waste from Metsamor. The new €10 million ($12.6 million as of May 2005) facility will be built in three stages beginning in 2007 and will replace a storage site, which is full, built in 2000 by the French company Framatome.[6]
Sources:
[1] Igor Kudrik, "Armenian NPP builds dry storage, receives free fuel from Russia," Bellona Foundation Web Site, http://www.bellona.no/e/russia/981208-1.htm, 8 December 1998.{Updated 8/20/2001 KB}
[2] Interfax, 12 April 1996.
[3] "Nuclear Plant Reactivated in Earthquake Zone," TheTimes, 11 April 1996.
[4] Aragil Electronic News Bulletin, 5 May 1996; in "Armenia: Deputy Raises Problem of Nuclear Waste Disposal," FBIS-TEN-96-006, 5 May 1996.
[5] Source Book: Soviet Designed Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Armenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungar and Bulgaria, 4th edition, Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington D.C., 1996, p. 203.
[6] "Armenia to build new depot for nuclear waste," AFP, 25 May 2005.
By Kseniya Yershova and Mary Wells
October 1996
Revised April 1997
In the 1960s, the Soviet leadership decided to meet the growing energy needs of the copper and aluminum production industry in Armenia by building a nuclear power plant.[1] Unit 1, a VVER reactor that did not possess a seismic resistance system, became operational in 1976. Unit 2, which went on-line in 1979, was designed to withstand an earthquake registering up to 8 on the Richter scale.[2]
In the 1980s, a strong environmentalist movement developed in Armenia under the leadership of Hachik Stamultyan. The movement successfully campaigned to close several environmentally hazardous manufacturing facilities and insisted on shutting down the Metsamor nuclear power plant.[3] In September 1988, the Armenian government promised to close the plant by 1991. The devastating 7 December 1988 earthquake, followed by an order from the Central Committee of the Communist Party, finalized the decision to shut the reactors down, although the reactors themselves were undamaged by the quake. Unit 1 was shut down on 25 February 1989, and Unit 2 on 18 March 1989.
The closure of Metsamor in 1989 forced Armenia to depend on neighboring states for energy due to its lack of sufficient indigenous energy resources. In 1991, pressure to restart the plant grew after a vital natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan was cut off by a Turkish and Azerbaijani-led fuel embargo as punishment for the civil war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Advocates of reactivation argued that Armenia did not have any alternative to meet its energy needs and that the safety of the reactor and the plant in general could be ensured. In November 1992, Armenian authorities indicated their intention to restart Unit 2 with the goal of recomissioning it by early 1993.[4] On 18 March 1993 the Armenian parliament convened an emergency session on solving the energy crisis, revoked its own decree requiring a national referendum to decide upon the restart of the NPP, and gave the decision-making authority to the executive branch.[5] Taking into consideration the improved design of Unit 2, the Armenian government decided in April 1993 to recommission it.[2] IAEA officials visited Metsamor from 27-30 August 1993 and found no technical reasons not to restart the plant. [6] IAEA Director General Hans Blix also visited Metsamor in 12/93 and promised IAEA assistance in restarting the plant, as well as help in securing EBRD assistance. [7]
Among the arguments against the reopening of the plant were the age of the VVER-440 design, which some felt was not worth restoring; the seismic instability of the region; weak nuclear regulatory authority; and regional conflict. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey protested the reopening of the plant, largely on political grounds. The West was for the most part, adamantly opposed to restarting Metsamor, and Armenia was ineligible for international assistance, such as aid distributed throughout the Nuclear Safety Account of the EBRD.[8] As far back as January 1992, Western experts worried that Armenia would not have enough money to refit the reactor safely, and would risk operating it in dangerous and politically unstable conditions.[9] The United States voiced its strong reservations about financing the "dangerous" reactor; in one instance it denied Armenia aid for upgrading the plant since the reactor lacked a containment vessel to prevent the accidental release of radiation.[10] In addition, the cost of recommissioning the Metsamor plant was estimated to be between $80 and $200 million. In August 1992, the Armenian government began seeking $100 to $150 million in western loans.[4]
In autumn 1992, officials from the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy gave their support to the restart proposal of Unit 2, conditioned upon the cessation of fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.[4] In February 1994, Armenian Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskevets reached an agreement under which Russia would provide equipment and specialists for the plant.[11] Later in March 1994, Russia agreed to provide technical assistance and nuclear fuel, as well as to monitor safety operations. In return, Armenia promised not to use nuclear fuel or the reactor for military purposes nor to transfer nuclear material to a third country.[1] The Armenian firm Atomtekhenergo was chosen to develop a restoration and recommissioning program, while the Kurchatov Institute, Atomteploenergoproekt, and Gidropress, all from Russia, were responsible for project management and design, and construction.[12] Equipment for the plant was supplied by at least 70 Russian enterprises; other reports indicate of the 193 contracts signed, over half were with Russian companies.[13] On 10 October 1994, Russia and Armenia signed an agreement on a 110 billion ruble loan, of which 60 million was spent on reopening Metsamor.[14] (The agreement was ratified in January 1995.) In addition, Russia provided training programs for Metsamor operators at the Novovoronezh and Kola nuclear power plants in Russia, which use the same VVER-type power reactors. Metsamor nuclear plant employees, seventy-five percent of whom had previous NPP experience, also received training at Greifswald, Germany and Loviisa, Finland.[15,16] In 1994-1995, international aid increased. Armenian expatriates contributed $35 million in the form of loans and donations for the recommissioning.[14] In 12/94, Russia loaned 20 billion rubles for radiation monitoring and other restart projects.[17] (Another report claims that Russia loaned 60 billion rubles for modernization and restart activities.)[18] Finally, in March 1995, Ukraine agreed to help train personnel.[15] By April 1995, it was reported that approximately $70 million had been spent on rehabilitating the facility.[19] (However, another report stated that only $48 million was spent on rehabilitating the facility, $10 million of which were loans from Russia.)[1] During 1994-95, Armenia's critical energy shortages may have suggested an immediate recommissioning of Metsamor, but safety was the higher priority.
For eighteen months in 1994-95, every piece of equipment was thoroughly inspected.[16] During that period, more than 500 tons of equipment were airlifted (to avoid Azerbaijani roadblocks) to the plant and more than 800 upgrades were carried out.[8]
In July 1994, the IAEA concluded that "the plant is safe and there are no principle obstacles for restart."[2] However, in March 1995, EBRD officials refused to conduct a scheduled inspection, as it did not consider the plant to meet safety standards; it instead offered to loan Armenia funds to build a fossil-fueled power plant.[20] Also in March 1995, it was reported that despite Armgosatomnadzor's (Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Body) approval of upgrades to the primary circuit; protection and control systems; thermal insulation; emergency cooling systems; and fire and explosion protection systems, some IAEA officials had reservations about the safety of the plant’s pressure vessel annealment and seismic resistance.[21] Nevertheless, Armenian officials continued with plans to restart Metsamor-2. In May 1995, Armen Abagyan, director of the All-Russian Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Operations, said that six planeloads of nuclear fuel worth $22 million were shipped to Metsamor.[22] Later that month, the Russian company Rosatomenergo approved the plant for recommissioning.[23] Officials reopened the Metsamor plant in June 1995, conducted a low power criticality test in October 1995, and on 26 October 1995 Unit 2 went critical.[24, 25, 26] At 5:30 p.m. on 5 November 1995, Unit 2 began producing electricity for the first time since 1989, at an initial output of 20% capacity, or 80 MWe.[27]
Even after the reopening of Metsamor, the debate over the expediency of the decision continued. On the one hand, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin stated in his address to Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan that Russia would continue to assist Armenia in ensuring safe and continuous operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant. [28] On the other hand, intellectuals including A. Abramyan, a doctor of technological sciences, protested against the "insane" decision, arguing that nuclear fuel and maintenance costs, along with the probability of an accident, outweighed any possible advantages Armenia might gain by having its own nuclear power plant.[29] In addition, Akop Sanasaryan, head of the Green Union of Armenia, claimed that the Metsamor plant did not meet internationally accepted nuclear safety standards, due to the lack of a containment vessel.[20] Georgia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan also expressed concern over the lack of a containment vessel.[30] Such a containment vessel would protect the core from a mortar attack, but the conventional wisdom in Yerevan is that any attack would come from a close neighbor rather than from a distance, so the possibility of radiation escape serves as a deterrent to such attacks. Metsamor's proximity to an airport and its use as a guidance landmark is concern for some that it could be hit by falling aircraft. [16] Nevertheless, during an official visit to Armenia in November 1995, Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Victor Mikhailov said that the level of reliability and safety at the re-opened Metsamor nuclear power plant was adequate. [31]
In November 1995, the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Armenian Ministry of Energy signed an agreement on the recommissioning of Unit 1, which Armenia plans to overhaul in 1996-1997.[32,15] Armenia plans to invest $80 million into the energy sector over 1996-1997 period, of which $5 million will be spent annually on safety improvements. [1]
6/10/2003: ARMENIA RECEIVES NUCLEAR FUEL FROM RUSSIA
A shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia arrived on 10 June to the Metsamor nuclear power facility, which had been shut down due to a lack of fuel since 4 April 2003.[1] Over 103 containers of nuclear fuel worth $8 million were purchased by Russian Unified Energy Systems (YeES Rossii), the Russian electric company that controls Metsamor's finances.[1,2] Because there is no railway connecting Russia with Armenia, the fuel is being flown into the country.[3] The shipment will be completed in a week and will allow Metsamor, which produces around 40% of the nation's electricity, to resume production in July.[1,3] The shipments of nuclear fuel arrived just days after an offer of €100 million from the European Union to shut down the nuclear power plant safely and as soon as possible.[4,5] EU officials are also looking for alternative electricity sources for Armenia, such as the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran.[5] Armenian Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan said that Armenia plans to continue operating the plant until the country can be provided with alternate energy sources. According to some experts, the plant can continue functioning until 2016.[3,5]
Sources:
[1] "Rossiyskoye yadernoye toplivo dostavleno v Armeniyu dlya mestnoy AES," Interfax, 10 June 2003..
[2] "Armyanskaya AES reshila vse svoi problemy," RIA Novosti, 13 June 2003; in "Armyanskaya AES reshila vse svoi problemy," E1.Ru; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[3] "V Armeniyu pribylo rossiyskoye yadernoye toplivo," Regions.Ru, 11 June 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[4] Mediamax, 4 June 2003; in "EU Offers 100 Million Euros To Close Armenian Nuclear Plant," FBIS Document CEP20030604000217.
[5] ITAR-TASS, 4 June 2003; in "EU insists Armenia close its nuclear power plant," FBIS Document CEP20030604000376. {Entered 6/24/2003 AE}
3/3/2003: ARMENIA DENIES REPORTS OF PLANS TO CREATE CLOSED FUEL CYCLE
Ashot Martirosyan, division head at Armatomenergonadzor, denied reports of plans to build a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Armenia[1] that appeared in a 3 March 2003 article on the CENTRAN information agency website. According to the article, Armenia had requested financial assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to build a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. Armenian government plans reportedly include the creation of a closed nuclear fuel cycle over the next 10 years. The CENTRAN article says that since all Armenian nuclear facilities have been placed under IAEA safeguards, the request should be considered favorably.[2] Martirosyan, however, said that Yerevan's declaration to the IAEA only confirmed that after signing the NPT in 1993, Yerevan had placed its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.[1]
Sources:
[1] "Yerevan chist ot yadernogo topliva!" Neftgaz.ru, 5 December 2002; Neftgaz.Ru Web Site, http://www.neftegaz.ru/lenta/wire/y2003/03/05/p2/.
[2] "Armeniya obratilas k MAGATE s prosboy okazat materialnuyu pomoshch v stroitelstve kombinata po pererabotke yadernogo topliva," CENTRAN, 3 March 2003; CENTRAN Web Site, http://www.centran.ru/cgi-bin/index.pl?text_id=5706&all=yes. {Entered 3/11/2003 AD}
2/5/2003: RUSSIA ASSUMES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF METSAMOR
At a 5 February 2003 meeting in Yerevan of the Russian-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, Armenia and Russia reached an agreement giving Russia financial management rights to Metsamor in return for the cancellation of $40 million in Armenian debt to Russian nuclear fuel suppliers. According to Russian Minister of Industry, Science, and Technology Ilya Klebanov, Metsamor's financial management will be implemented by Russian Unified Energy Systems (YeES Rossii), Russia's electricity monopoly, which will develop a debt management schedule shortly. Klebanov noted that Metsamor will remain Armenian property, as Russia's international agreements prohibit Russian ownership of nuclear power plants outside its borders.[1,2] According to Armenian Deputy Minister of Energy Iosif Isayan, Russia will assume management over the plant's finances but not its power production activities.[3]
Sources:
[1] "Finansovym upravleniyem Armyanskoy AES zaymetsya PAO 'EES Rossii'," MEDIAMAKS, 5 February 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[2] Mikhail Vorobyev, "Bez prava peredachi," Vremya novostey, 6 February 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[3] "Minatom zaymetsya finansami Armyanskoy AES," Vesti.Ru, 5 February 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/. [Entered 3/13/1003 AD]
3/12/2002: ARMENIA SEEKS TO INCREASE SECURITY AT METSAMOR
The Metsamor nuclear power plant (NPP) has received 118 safety and security upgrades since its reopening in 1996. For example, in 2002 the plant installed a Swiss-made fire alarm system and a multifunctional simulator.[1] At a 3 December 2002 session of the Nuclear Power Plant Safety Council, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said that Armenian authorities put a special emphasis on physical security at Metsamor in response to the international terrorist threat.[2] According to NPP director Gagik Markosyan, the plant's security program is periodically upgraded, incorporating the best practices at similar NPPs in Russia and Eastern Europe.[1,2] In spite of increased security measures at the plant, the European Union hopes to shut down Metsamor. According to the Armenian government, this will be possible only if alternative sources of power are found. The EU is ready to allocate $100 million within the framework of the Technical Assistance to CIS countries program (TACIS) to find alternatives to substitute for Metsamor.[3]Sources:
[1] "V etom godu na Armyanskoy AES dvazhdy proiskhodili avariyniye ostanovki, soobshchil direktor stantsii," ITAR-TASS, 3 December 2002; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[2] "V usloviyakh ugroz terrorizma vlasti Armenii proyavlyayut osoboye vnimaniye fizicheskoy zashchite AES," ITAR-TASS, 3 December 2002; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[3] "Ocherednoye zasedaniye soveta pri prezidente Armenii obsuzhdayet mery po povysheniyu bezopastnosti na Armyanskoy AES," ITAR-TASS, 3 December 2002; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.{entered/ 1/27/2003 AD}
5/1/2002: ARMENIA SEEKS JOINT OPERATION OF METSAMOR
On 1 May 2002, ITAR-TASS quoted Armenian Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan as saying that Armenia was having trouble financing Metsamor. Further, he said that his country was negotiating with Russia regarding possible joint operation of the plant. One option may be Russia's provision of nuclear fuel to the plant. Another option, handing the plant over to Russian management (see the 9/26/2001 entry below), was ruled out by Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in 2001.
["Armenia Seeks Russian Help to Run Nuclear Power Plant," ITAR-TASS, 1 May 2002.] {entered 8/19/2002 YP}
11/15/2001: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT RESUMES OPERATION
On 15 November 2001, Metsamor resumed operation after it was closed for planned repairs and refueling on 10 July 2001. The plant's operation was to be suspended for only 75 days but the downtime was extended because Armenia lacked funds to pay for nuclear fuel, supplied by Russia. Russia demanded payment of $16 million for previously delivered fuel as well as prepayment of $13 million for future shipments. Armenia received the fuel, the last shipment arriving on 17 October 2001, after obtaining a $4 million credit from NIS Mezhgosbank.
["Armyanskaya AES vozobnovila rabotu," Interfax, 15 November 2002.] {entered 8/17/2002 YP}
9/26/2001: RUSSIA MAY MANAGE METSAMOR NPP
On 26 September 2001, Armenian Minister of Energy Karen Galustyan announced that Armenian and Russian presidents Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin had agreed to transfer Metsamor nuclear power plant (NPP) to Russian management.[1] According to Ashot Madoyan, Director of Armenia's Scientific Institute of Environmental Problems of Energy, Metsamor will be handed over to Rosenergoatom in order to repay Armenia's debt to Russia for provision of nuclear fuel. Half of the plant will belong to Russia, acccording to Madoyan.[2] Galustyan, however, said that the transfer to Russian management is not directly related to the financing of fuel purchases for the NPP. He emphasized that, according to Armenian legislation, the NPP cannot become foreign property. As of 26 September 2001, Armenia and Russia were working on the conditions of the transfer. According to the deal, Russia will provide Metsamor NPP with fresh nuclear fuel at a cost of $13.78 million.[1] After fuel reloading at the end of October 2001, Metsamor will resume operation, Galustyan said.[3]
Sources:
[1] "Armyanskaya AES budet peredana Rossii v upravleniye - glava Minenergo," Interfax, 26 September 2001.
[2] "Novosti," Russian Nuclear Site, http://www.nuclear.ru/news/full/print/285.shtml, 26 September 2001.
[3] "Novosti," Russian Nuclear Site, http://www.nuclear.ru/news/full/292.shtml, 27 September 2001. {entered 10/29/2001 DK}
5/6/2001: SPECIALISTS FROM METSAMOR READY TO WORK IN IRAN
At a 5 June 2001 meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mokhammad Koleini and Metsamor General Director Suren Azatyan, the latter indicated that enlisting specialists from Metsamor to work at Iran's nuclear power plants would facilitate the integration of the region's energy system. He said that Metsamor workers are indeed prepared to work at Iranian facilities, especially during periods when the Armenian plant is idle.
["Nastoyashcheye vremya sushchestvuyet potrebnost stroitelstva vtoroy linii elektroperedach, svyazyvayushchey energokompleksy Armenii i Irana," Finmarket, 6 May 2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com.]{entered/ 5/28/2001 KB}
11/20/99: RUSSIA TO DELIVER FRESH FUEL FOR METSAMOR
On 20 November 1999, in accordance with a $35 million credit agreement signed in 1997, Russia began to deliver about 60 nuclear fuel cassettes to the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. The plant had been shut down for maintenance for the previous three months, but will now have enough fuel to operate for the next year.[1,2] On 8 December, the plant resumed operation, generating 380 MW at its second unit (92% of capacity).
Sources:
[1] Radio Rossii, 20 November 1999; in "Russia Begins Nuclear Fuel Deliveries to Armenia," FBIS Document FTS19991120000757.
[2] "Armyanskaya AES posle trekhmesyachnogo pereriva vnov vvedena v eksplutatsiyu," Interfax, 8 December 1999. {entered 1/26/00 IPZ}
3/2/99: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LAW ON USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
On 2 March 1999, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed the Law on the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes, passed by the Armenian National Assembly on 1 February 1999.[1] This new law outlines the procedures for export, import, and storage of nuclear and radioactive materials and radioactive waste. It requires licenses for organizations dealing with nuclear energy, forbids the import of radioactive waste, and prohibits the export of nuclear and radioactive materials, radioactive waste, nuclear equipment, and nuclear technology to countries that have not signed the appropriate international agreements. The law provides for radioactive waste disposal in special facilities, and according to Ashot Martirosyan, head of the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (Armgosatomnadzor), the law might form the legal basis for a nuclear code in the future.[2]
Sources:
[1] Snark, 3 March 1999; in "Kocharyan Signs Law on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy," FBIS Document FTS19990303001731.
[2] Interfax, 1 February 1999; in “Parliament Passes Law on Use of Nuclear Energy,” FBIS Document FTS19990201001137.
9/1/97: RUSSIA LOANS ARMENIA 249 BILLION RUBLES
The Russian government issued an ordinance on 1 September 1997 that stipulates Russia's intention to loan Armenia 249 billion rubles ($42.7 million) for further safety upgrades at the Metsamor nuclear power plant. The loan disbursement will begin later in 1997, and the loan will be extended to Armenia until 1 December 2010. Armenia will repay the interest on the loan quarterly beginning in 2000. As a guarantee for the loan, Armenia has given Russia a seven percent stake in Metsamor and a ten percent share of the Nairit chemical plant.[1,2] The payments will begin once Armenia repays previous Russian credits. In a 1994 110 billion-ruble agreement, Armenia gave Russia a 15 percent stake in Metsamor, Nairit, the Yerevan cognac distillery, and the Armelektromash electrical engineering plant.[2]
Sources:
[1] Interfax, 1 September 1997; in "Russia To Loan Armenia 249 Billion Rubles," FBIS-SOV-97-244.
[2] "Russia May Grant New Loan to Yerevan," RFE/RL Newsline, vol. 1, no. 108, 2 September 1997. {entered 9/12/97 djw}
7/21/97: REACTOR UNIT TO SHUT DOWN FOR REFUELING
Armgosatomnadzor head Ashot Martirosian announced that one unit of the Metsamor plant would be shut down until September 1997 in order to carry out preventative safety measures and to load nuclear fuel.[1] Station director Suren Azatyan announced that safety enhancements will be implemented as well.[2] The fuel will be delivered to Metsamor from Russia sometime in August 1996.[3] Other Armenian electric power plants will compensate for the loss of electrical output to the country while the unit is down.[1] The United States has offered $30 million in aid to the power stations to purchase additional gas and fuel oil.[3]
Sources:
[1] "Armenia To Shut Down Nuclear Power Plant To Replenish Fuel Reserves," RIA Novosti Online Edition http://www.russia.net/ria/, Issue 79, 21 July 1997.
[2] Armenpress, 21 July 1997; in "Nuclear Power Plant Shut Down For Overhaul 21 Jul," FBIS-SOV-97-203.
[3] Interfax, 15 July 1997; in "Nuclear Plant To Shut Down For Planned Repairs 22 Jul," FBIS-SOV-97-196. {entered 8/8/97 djw}
7/17/97-7/18/97: BLIX AND ARMENIAN OFFICIALS MEET
IAEA Director-General Hans Blix met with Armenian Energy Minister Gagik Martirossian and Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian in Yerevan to discuss plans to construct a new nuclear power plant in Armenia.[1, 2] Blix and his delegation encouraged the development of nuclear energy for peaceful ends and promoted further cooperation with the IAEA to ensure nuclear safety in Armenia.[2] Arzumanian emphasized the Armenian government's acknowledgement of the importance of nuclear energy for Armenia and also expressed interest in regional cooperation. Blix noted the IAEA's efforts with respect to nuclear weapon-free zones and lauded the Armenian government's open attitude toward nuclear energy.[1, 3] Martirossian noted that the Armenian government hopes for more IAEA assistance for teaching personnel, constructing a unit at the new nuclear power plant, and advising on new legislation. Blix emphasized that the IAEA will continue to provide assistance to Metsamor and stated that important progress has already been made in improving safety there.[2]
Sources:
[1] Interfax, 17 July 1997; in "Energy Minister, IAEA Director Discuss Nuclear Plants," FBIS-SOV-97-198.
[2] Noyan Topan, 21 July 1997; in "IAEA Experts Say Armenia Making Progress In Nuclear Safety," FBIS-SOV-97-203, 22 July 1997.
[3] Armenpress, 18 July 1997; in "More Help Requested From IAEA With Nuclear Program," FBIS-SOV-97-199.{entered 8/8/97 djw}
7/17/97: METSAMOR SPENT FUEL DEPOSITORY PROJECT PLANNED
Plans for the construction of a spent fuel depository in Armenia were finalized in July 1997. Metsamor Station Director Suren Azatyan stated that construction of a spent nuclear fuel storage facility should be completed by the end of 1998. The hydroelectric construction firm Armgidroenergostroy will build the facilty. The plan also includes delivery of transport canisters and canisters for spent fuel to the site. The French firm Framatom has developed the project, which has been funded by a FF 15.5 million grant (approximately $2.62 million) and FF 24.5 million (approximately $4.15 million) in long-term loans from the French government.
[Noyan Topan, 17 July 1997; in "Nuclear Waste Repository Planned For Power Station," FBIS-SOV-97-199, 18 July 1997.] {entered 8/8/97 djw}
6/17/97: METSAMOR CLOSES FOR REFUELING AND MAINTENANCE
Snark News Agency reported that the Metsamor NPP has been shut down for scheduled maintenance and refueling. Aram Gevorkian, Head of the Nuclear Energy Department of the Armenian Ministry of Energy, stated that the overhaul would take place over a 60-day period.
[Snark News Agency, 17 June 1997; in "Nuclear Power Station Closed for Maintenance," FBIS-SOV-97-169, 18 June 1997]{eneterd 7/11/97 djw}
5/29/97: ARMENIA AND TURKEY AGREE TO SIGN SAFETY PROTOCOL
ITAR-TASS reported that Armenia and Turkey have agreed to sign a protocol ensuring safety at Metsamor. The protocol allows for cooperation in personnel training, the exchange of seismological information, and the development of an emergency action plan. ITAR-TASS stated that the signing of the protocol represents an important step in Turkish-Armenian relations as no diplomatic ties exist between the two countries.
[Andrey Palariya, ITAR-TASS, 29 May 1997; in "Protocol To Ensure Safety at Armenian Nuclear Power Plant Planned" FBIS-TEN-97-149.] {entered 7/11/97 djw}
5/97: AZATYAN SAYS ARMENIA SHOULD NOT OPEN UNIT 1
Metsamor plant manager Suren Azatyan reported that Unit 1 should remain closed due to economic considerations. He stated that it would be more cost-effective to use those funds to begin construction of a new nuclear power station. Since the closure of Unit 1 after the 1988 earthquake, Metsamor managers have removed parts and equipment from Unit 1 to refurbish Unit 2, which reopened in November 1995. Azatyan suggested a new project to design and build another nuclear reactor in an effort to protect Metsamor's 1200 employees. This announcement contradicts his position in 1996, when he stated that the restart of Unit 1 would provide better overall safety for the plant and greater stability for the power grid. Meanwhile, Joseph Misak, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic, recommended that Armenia begin work on the most urgent safety upgrades at Unit 2, since TACIS money could take a while to reach Metsamor.
[Ann MacLachlan, "Armenia Plant Manager Now Says Metsamor-1 Restart Not Economical," Nucleonics Week, 22 May 1997, pp. 5-6.] {entered 9/19/97 djw}{Updated 11/3/97 TR}
5/97: EU INITIATES SAFETY PROJECT AT METSAMOR
In May 1995, the European Union introduced a program to upgrade safety at the Metsamor NPP.[1] Peter Kelm, head of a delegation of European Union atomic energy experts, outlined the ECU 10 million project, which includes primarily equipment purchases. Kelm stated that the project is part of a larger safety assistance program at Metsamor, which also involves aid to Armgosatomnadzor for an evaluation of the Russian-Armenian modernization plan for the power station.[2]
Sources:
[1] BBC Monitoring Service of World Broadcasts, 23 May 1997; in UI News Briefing 97.21, 21-27 May 1997. [2] Noyan Tapan, 16 May 1997; in "EU To Finance Upgrade of Nuclear Power Plant" FBIS-SOV-97-137, 17 May 1997. {entered 7/10/97 djw}
4/97: WESTERN AGENCIES OFFER MILLIONS IN AID TO METSAMOR
Armenia has not yet received any of the nearly $16.4 million in aid promised by Western organizations for safety upgrades at Metsamor's Unit 2.[1,2] Advisors to Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan have advised against postponing any refurbishments until the aid is disbursed, and Ter-Petrosyan has promised to make funds available from the state budget.[2] The Western aid promises resulted from a 1996 agreement between the European Union (EU) and Armenia in which Armenia pledged to keep Unit 1 closed and to shut down Unit 2 "in the medium term." This pledge marks the first, large-scale Western assistance since Armenia made the decision to reopen Unit 2 in 1992. The European Commission will provide ECU 10 million ($11.4 million) in contracts to Western firms taking part in its TACIS technical assistance program. Enel, RWE Energie, and Tractebel are to carry out an ECU 8.4 million (approximately $9.58 million) contract to complete ten projects at the plant, including on-site inspection, purchasing spare parts from the decommissioned Greifswald VVER plant in Germany, and drafting normal and emergency operation procedures. The remaining ECU 1.6 million (approximately $1.82 million) will supply a multipurpose simulator for Unit 2. In addition, the United States has offered $5 million in assistance.[1] The West had originally opposed aid to Metsamor in spite of Armenia's critical energy problems. After Armenia made the decision to put Unit 2 back on line, Russia provided technical and financial assistance.[1, 2] Only after the reactor was prepared to restart did Western governments offer financial assistance through the TACIS program and a safety analysis assistance project.[2] A West European safety and technical consortium composed of the French-German organization Riskaudit (IPSN and GRS), AEA Technology, and Belgium's Association Vincotte Nucleaire will assist the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (Armgosatomnadzor) in analyzing the safety upgrades.[1, 2] IPSN and GRS stated that Armenia predicts the work program on Metsamor will total about ECU 45 million ($51.4 million).[1] Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency of the Slovak Republic and member of GRS Jozef Misak advised Armenia not to wait for the TACIS funds before upgrading Unit 2 since it could take up to three years for these types of EU-funded projects to materialize.[2]
Sources:
[1] Ann MacLachlan, "Safety Assistance Money Flows To Once-Isolated Metsamor," Nucleonics Week, 10 April 1997, pp. 11-12.
[2] Ann MacLachlan, "Armenia Plant Manager Now Says Metsamor-1 Restart Not Economical," Nucleonics Week, 22 May 1997, pp. 5-6. {entered 9/19/97 djw}{Updated 11/3/97 TR}
4/97: RUSSIA TO DELIVER FUEL RODS TO METSAMOR; CONSTRUCTION OF STORAGE FACILITY TO BEGIN IN LATE 1997
Russia is expected to deliver 120 fresh nuclear fuel rods on credit to the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia. 612 spent fuel rods are in storage in two underwater containers at the power plant. There is room for 732 rods. Before the breakup of the USSR, all spent fuel rods were shipped back to Russia for storage. Now Armenia must store its own spent fuel. Currently, the French firm Framatome is constructing a new Ffr40 million dry-storage facility in Armenia to hold the spent fuel rods for another 60 years. Ffr17 million of that amount is foreign aid, while the remainder will be paid back to France as a long-term loan. Construction will begin before the end of 1997 and will last for several months. Ashot Martirossian, head of Armgosatomnadzor, said that the ministries of industry, health, and agriculture will take responsibility for inventory of all radioactive material in Armenia.
[Tigran Abramyan, "Gde by sokhranit mirniy atom?" Novoye vremya, 23 April 1997, p. 2; in What the Papers Say, No. 17-18, 16 May 1997, p. 11.] {entered 7/14/97 djw}
2/6/97: ENERGY MINISTER DETAILS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO METSAMOR
Energy Minister Gagik Martirossian reported to the Armenian National Assembly that so far, out of the $400 million necessary to reconstruct Metsamor NPP, $30 million has been spent. He also stated that a $90 million credit program from the World Bank and Japan will be presented in the near future. The goals of the program are to restore control panels and high energy grids at the power plant.
["Armenia's Atomic Power Plant Working at the Capacity of 280 MWT," Noyan Tapan, 6 February 1997.] {entered 2/19/97 djw}
2/4/97: METSAMOR SHUTS DOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS
Metsamor NPP was shut down for several hours due to wiring problems in the turbogenerator. Plant officials stated that there was no danger to personnel or the environment. The reactor was restarted later that day and the turbogenerators began operation the next morning. An Armgosatomnadzor official reported this incident as "the least dangerous" on the INES scale.
Sources:
[1] Bruce Pannier, "Trouble at Armenian Nuclear Power Plant," OMRI Daily Digest, 5 February 1997.
[2] "Armenian Nuclear Power Plant Re-Activated," Noyan Topan, 5 February 1997.
[3] "Nuclear Plant Reactor Shut Down After Damage Incident," Interfax, 4 February 1997. {entered 2/24/97 djw}
1/31/97: ARMENIAN PM AND ENERGY MINISTER VISIT METSAMOR
Prime Minister Armen Sargsian and Minister of Energy Gagik Martirossian visited Metsamor NPP to familiarize themselves with the financial problems facing the plant. Metsamor administration reported that the plant receives only 26 percent of the money it is owed. This debt has resulted in difficulty in maintaining the plant and "solving the social problems of the employees." Sargsian stated that nuclear energy is not simply an industry, but a policy as well. He said that Armenia will continue to cooperate with international nuclear associations and will work with the European Bank to receive additional funding.
["'Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is Not Only Industry But Policy as Well,' RA Prime Minister Said," Armenpress, 3 February 1997.] {entered 2/19/97 djw}
1/23/97: METSAMOR DIRECTOR SPEAKS ON NEW NUCLEAR PLANT
Segodnya reports that Metsamor Director Suren Asatyan stated that constructing a new nuclear power plant will cost an estimated $2 billion. French specialists will build the plant using French equipment. The reactors and steam generators, however, will be Russian-produced. The date construction of the new plant will begin was not announced.
["V Armenii budyet postroyena novaya AES," Segodnya, Online Edition, http://www.eastview.com/, No. 9, 23 January 1997.] {Updated 4/9/97 djw}
9/13/96: PRESIDENT SAYS METSAMOR WILL BE REPLACED
President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, speaking to Metsamor staff, asserted that Armenia has no other choice than to construct another nuclear power station. Petrosyan stated that Metsamor must be replaced by 2005-2007 because its present resources will be "completely exhausted" by then. Talks are underway with France, Germany, the United States, and Russia to begin construction in 1998 of a plant with a generating capacity of 1000 MWe. This will compensate for the 400 MWe lost by Unit 1 and the current 600 MWe energy shortage in Armenia. Segodnya reports that a second new plant will be completed by 2010 at Metsamor.
Sources:
[1] UI News Briefing 96/43, NB96.43-10, http://www.uilondon.org/index.htm.
[2] "Armenia: No Alternative to New Nuclear Power Station by 2007," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, in IAEA Daily Press Review, 27 September 1996, p. 26.
[3] Artyem Gorodnov, "Atomnoye stroitelstvo na territorii byvshevo Soyuza prodolzhaetsya," Segodnya, 17 October 1996, p. 9. {entered 12/11/96 djw}
8/26/96: RUSSIA AND ARMENIA SIGN LOAN AGREEMENT
Armenian Minister of CIS Relations Garik Shahbazyan and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Bolshakov signed an agreement giving 88.3 billion rubles in credit to Armenia to ensure the smooth operation of Metsamor. Other sources report that 98.8 billion roubles were credited.
["Armenia: Russia To Provide Armenia's R88.3 Billion Credit for Nuclear Plant," Yerevan Armenia's First Radio Program Network, 26 August 1996.]{Entered 9/30/96 KVY}
8/96: METSAMOR CLOSES FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AMID DISAGREEMENT OVER RENOVATION COSTS
The Metsamor plant was shut down for regular maintenance and refueling, originally scheduled for Spring 1996. Armenian and French specialists estimated the total cost of a joint comprehensive renovation program to be $29 million, although the plant manger believed that the total cost of fully implementing the program would be three times higher. Since the reopening of the plant in 10/95, it received only 2 billion drams (1 dollar = 425 drams in 8/96) out of the 10.5 billion drams owed to it by electricity consumers.
Sources:
[1] Gamlet Matevosyan, "Na Armyanskoy AES nachat profilakticheskiy remont," Segodnya, 15 August 1996, p. 7.
[2] Ann MacClachan, "Revived Armenian VVER-440 Operates Well, Run Extended," Nucleonics Week, 22 August 1996, pp. 4, 5. {ENTERED 8/15/96 KVY}
7/18/96: METSAMOR SHUT-DOWN DELAYED
A planned 55 day shut-down for maintenance and refueling of the Metsamor plant did not take place due to a lack of funds for necessary parts and equipment. The shut-down was scheduled for 7/15/96 and was to coincide with the arrival of IAEA experts. It was postponed to 8/15/96.
Sources:
[1] Uranium Institute News Briefing, 17-23 July 1996, 96.29.
[2] Gamlet Matevosyan, Segodnya, 25 May 1996, p. 4, in "Armenian Atomic Power Station Will Be Shut," Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press, 19 June 1996, p. 21.
[3] UI News Briefing 96/29, NB96.29-15, from http://www.uilondon.org//nb/nb96/nb9629.html. {Entered 8/19/96 KVY}
6/17/96: FRANCE AND RUSSIA LIKELY TO ASSIST NUCLEAR PLANT DEVELOPMENTS
Presidential spokesman Levon Zurabyan stated that, as a result of negotiations which took place in June 1996 between Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and French President Jacques Chirac, Armenia is likely to receive economic and expert assistance for development of its nuclear energy industry. Specifically, France will help Armenia to construct a new power plant by the year 2007. The Russian and Armenian prime ministers reportedly also concluded an agreement on cooperation in building the new power plant. The planned plant will be located near Metsamor.
Sources:
[1] Interfax, 17 June 19 96; in "Armenia: Yerevan Satisfied with Ter-Petrosyan's Visit to France," FBIS-SOV-96-118, 17 June 1996.
[2] Aragil Electronic News Bulletin, 6/15/96, in FBIS-SOV-96-118, 15 June 1996.
[3] Golos Armenii, 15 June 1996, p. 1; in "Armenia: France Plans Role in Nuclear Plant," FBIS-SOV-96-154-S. {Entered 8/18/96 KVY; Revised 8/19/96 KVY}
4/12/96: ARMGOSATOMNADZOR DENIES PLANS TO CONSTRUCT AN UNDERGROUND STORAGE SITE FOR SPENT FUEL
The Chairman of Union of the Greens estimated the annual spent fuel output from the operation of the Metsamor plant at 13 tons. If reprocessed this could produce 212kg of plutonium. Armenia has neither the capability nor plans to reprocess spent fuel. Ashot Martirossian, head of the Armenian Atomic Energy Agency, Armgosatomnadzor, dismissed allegations of plans to build a spent fuel underground burial site in Armenia.[1,2] However, in 1/96, Framatome of France and Armenia's Metsamor nuclear power plant signed a contract under which Framatome would construct a $7.8 million dry storage facility, including storage casks for spent fuel, at the Metsamor nuclear power plant. The facility was scheduled to be opened by the end of 1997 to accept 614 spent fuel assemblies from the Metsamor plant. The project would be funded through loans and grants from the French government. Framatome's subsidiary ATEA was to forge equipment for the facility.[3,4,5,6]
Sources:
[1] Interfax, 12 April 1996.
[2] Thomas Cochran et al., "Difficult Legacy: Spent Fuel from Soviet Reactors," Nuclear Weapons Databook, 31 January 1996. {Entered 8/19/96 KVY Revised 9/4/96 KVY}
[3] NucNet, 30 January 1996.
[4] Le Figaro, 27 January 1996.
[5] "Framatome Wins Contract To Build Dry Storage Unit For Medzamor," Nucleonics Week, 1 February 1996, pp. 11-13.
[6] "Members Of Nuclear Club Are Helping Armenia's Nuclear Power Plant," Segodnya, 22 February 1996, p.9.
2/1/96: ARMENIA TO RECEIVE LOAN AFTER METSAMOR UNIT 2 GOES ON LINE
According to Vigen Chitechian, Armenia's Ambassador to France, as soon as Unit 2 at the Metsamor plant goes on line on 10/26/95, Armenia will meet all qualifications to receive a loan from the EBRD's Nuclear Safety Account.
["Framatome Wins Contract To Build Dry Storage Unit For Medzamor," Nucleonics Week, 1 February 1996, pp. 11-13.]
2/1/96: PLANT SIGNS CONTRACTS WITH FIRMS FOR SAFETY AND UPGRADING
Suren Azatyan, Metsamor's plant manager, stated that the plant signed more than 250 contracts with various international firms to help upgrade and enhance safety at the plant. More than 500 tons of equipment have been shipped to the plant thus far.
["Framatome Wins Contract To Build Dry Storage Unit For Medzamor," Nucleonics Week, 1 February 1996, pp. 11-13.]
1/11/96: GERMANY AND FRANCE WILL GIVE AID TO METSAMOR PLANT
Germany and France will assist Armenia in enhancing the safety of the Metsamor nuclear power plant. Germany will provide DM 30 million. France pledged FF 15.5 million in grants and FF 24.5 million in forty-year loans. Part of the aid will be used to construct an on-site spent fuel storage facility.
["Armenia: French and German Aid," Nucleonics Week, 11 January 1996, p. 9.]
11/9/95: ARMENIAN ENERGY SECTOR IN DEBT
The Armenian population owes $250,000 to the energy industry. The Armenian energy industry's debt is around $750,000.
[Moscow Russian Public Television First Channel Network, 9 November 1995; in FBIS-SOV-95-217, "Minister Inspects Armenian Nuclear Power Station," 9 November 1995.]
10/14/95: EXPERTS INSPECT RADIATION PROTECTION
A group of international experts visited Yerevan under the auspices of a joint IAEA and UN program aimed at enhancing nuclear safety and radiation protection. The group inspected facilities where radiation sources are used. According to the experts, the IAEA plans to supply equipment for ensuring radioactive safety of the facilities handling nuclear materials. Experts will also assist Armenia in establishing a legislative base for the use of nuclear energy.
[Hamlet Matevosyan, "IAEA Experts Learned About Radioactive Safety In The Republic," Segodnya, 14 October 1995.]
9/15/95: EXPANSION OF METSAMOR UNDER CONSIDERATION
It was reported that Armenia is looking into building two additional reactors at the Metsamor nuclear power plant.
[East European Energy Report, September 1995, p. 17.]
8/10/95: ASAS IS REVIEWING UNIT 2 IN LIGHT OF SAFETY QUESTIONS
Armenia State Atom Supervision (ASAS) re-evaluated prospects for refueling Unit 2 of the Metsamor plant, and will finalize the 3/95 safety upgrades before Unit 2 is restarted. In 7/95, the ASAS tested the proficiency level of the reactor operators who were trained at the Novovoronezh and Kola NPPs. According to an agreement between Armenia and Russia, two Russian operators will be working on site after reactor restart. The ASAS also suggested designing emergency response procedures.
[Gamini Seneviratne, "Armenian Regulators Hasten Policy To Assure Unit 2 Restart Safety," Nucleonics Week, 10 August 1995, p. 8.]
5/95: IAEA MISSION PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR FUTURE AID
The IAEA completed a fact finding mission to Armenia under the auspices of a program aimed to enhance nuclear safety and radiation protection in order to outline areas for future financial assistance in the nuclear sector.
[GAO/RCED-96-4, p. 30.]
1995: ARMENIA VIEWS NUCLEAR POWER IN ITS FUTURE
The Armenian government issued its program for meeting energy needs through the year 2005. The plan envisaged operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant until the year 2005, and construction of a new power plant between 2005 and 2010.
[Source Book: Soviet Designed Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Armenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria, 4th edition, Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington D.C., 1996, p. 202.]
