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Updated January 2010
Nuclear Overview
Nuclear energy played a crucial role during the period of economic recovery following Armenia's independence. There is one nuclear power plant in Armenia, Metsamor, which has two reactor units. Unit 1 is out of operation, and Unit 2 was re-commissioned in 1995, after 6.5 years of outage. Armenian authorities have indicated that the plant will likely be shut down by 2016. The Russian Federation supplies nuclear fuel necessary for Metsamor's operation under a 2003 agreement betwen Moscow and Yerevan that ceded management of the plant to Russia's electricity monopoly Unified Energy Systems (UES).
Armenia has worked closely with the IAEA and the United States to improve the physical security of Metsamor, investing nearly $55 million in security enhancements. In spite of Yerevan's commitment to security at at the plant, officials have refused to export its spent nuclear fuel to be stored or recycled, and have moved forward with plans to construct a third storage facility for the material. The 2003 management agreement with Russia stipulates that spent fuel be transferred to Russia.[3]
During a July 2005 visit to Metsamor, IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei noted many improvements in the operation of Unit 2, but noted that further steps must be taken to meet international safety standards. He offered Armenia continued IAEA support to complete essential safety upgrading at Metsamor and to revise an assessment of Armenia's energy needs. He also agreed to assist with a feasibility study for a new nuclear power plant.
In April 2007, Russia and Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding calling for cooperation in the areas of geologic prospecting, extraction, and processing of uranium ores in Armenia. The two sides hope to have a joint venture in operation by the end of 2007. In addition, Armenia is reportedly considering joining the international center on uranium enrichment that Rosatom plans to establish in Angarsk.[1,2] In November 2007, Armenia and the United States signed a cooperation agreement on the feasibility study of the construction of a new nuclear power unit of the Armenian nuclear power plant.
In July 2008, Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza signed a joint action plan on fighting trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.
Armenia has two known nuclear research facilities — the Yerevan Physics Institute and the Analitsark Plant in Gyumri.
Armenia is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has an Additional Protocol with the IAEA, and has ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Sources:
[1] Alexei Breus, "Rosatom seeks access to Armenian U deposits," NuclearFuel, 26 February 2007.
[2] Alexei Breus, "Russia will help Armenia extract uranium ore to make nuclear fuel," NuclearFuel, 7 May 2007.
[3] "Armenia's spent nuclear fuel," Jane's Intelligence Digest, 13 May 2008.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2010 by MIIS.
