YEREVAN. – Due to planned repairs, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) will suspend operations for 45 days as of September.  

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan on Friday visited the nuclear plant, where the annual meeting of the shareholders was convened, informed the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry press service.    

And after the ensuing tour of the plant, Zakharyan told reporters that Armenia and Russia will sign an agreement, pursuant to which Russia will grant a loan of $300 million for the activities to extend the lifetime of the ANPP.    

Commenting on the forthcoming 45-day suspension of the plant’s operations due to planned repairs, the minister noted that they will endeavor to reduce these periods.

“Of course, this should not be [done] at the expense of safety,” he added.

Zakharyan also reflected on the plans to build a new nuclear plant in Armenia, and informed that a new energy unit will cost about $4.5 billion.
“The Russian government will allocate a portion of it in the form of products, equipment, and we [Armenia] will make up for the other part by way of financial aids obtained as a result of negotiations with other countries,” he said.

Yervand Zakharyan also noted that the construction of the ANPP’s new energy unit is scheduled to begin between 2018 and 2019.