[NukeNet] Armenia to Close Nuclear Plant But........

[Bill Smirnow]

 >Last week, the United States said it would fund a preliminary feasibility
study on building a new nuclear plant.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Armenia-Nuclear.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
    Armenia to Close Nuclear Plant
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 29, 2007
Filed at 7:44 p.m. ET

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) -- Armenia approved a plan Thursday to shut down its
lone nuclear power plant, following years of pressure from foreign nations
concerned about its Soviet-era design and safety.

The government gave no date for closing the Medzamor reactor, located about
20 miles west of the capital, Yerevan. The 27-year-old plant, which supplies
nearly half the country's electricity, halted operations after a 1988
earthquake but was restarted during an energy shortage in 1995.

Since then, Armenia has been under constant pressure to close the plant
ahead of its 2016 operational end-life due to safety concerns and possible
design flaws. The European Union has pledged loans and other assistance
estimated to about cover the cost of closing it.

The shutdown could cost up to $280 million, Energy Minister Armen Movsisian
said.

Armenian officials have long refused to shut it without another source of
electricity.

Last week, the United States said it would fund a preliminary feasibility
study on building a new nuclear plant.

President Robert Kocharian has said that building a new, 1,000-megawatt
plant -- double that of Medzamor -- would cost more than $3 billion.

In 2004, Russia's state-run electricity grid operator, RAO Unified Energy
Systems, assumed financial control of Medzamor in a deal struck to relieve
Armenia's massive debts to Russian energy suppliers. UES and Armenia now
share management of the plant.
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