YEREVAN. – It is possible that Armenian Nuclear Power Plant’s 158 engineering and technical staff members could go to work today for the last time, Haykakan Zhamanak daily writes. 

“According to our information, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan yesterday commissioned the Plant’s General Director Gagik Markosyan to sign their resignations. This means the Plant will not operate again…those who had submitted resignations demanded from the Plant’s management a review of, and an increase in, their salaries. According to our information,…Armen Movsisyan said he would resolve the specialists’ issue within one month.     

But there are views that Armenia’s authorities are not inclined to solve this problem as soon as possible. According to experts, by stopping the Plant’s operations, the necessary electricity demand would be supplied by thermoelectric power plants [TPP]…Large investments were made in Armenia for constructing TPPs, and now, in order to return those investments, they must operate in full capacity, which is possible only if the nuclear power plant does not operate… If the Plant shuts, TPPs will fill the gap,” Haykakan Zhamanak writes.