Rosatom ready to construct new power unit at Metsamor nuclear plant - Nikolay Drozdov
Mr Nikolay Drozdov, Director of the International Business Department, Rosatom corporation, answered a number of questions by Tert.am.
Mr Drozdov, what is the reason for lack of progress in the construction of a new power unit of the Metsamor nuclear plant. Is Rosatom still interested in a new nuclear plant?
We are ready to continue working at a new power unit construction project. As you know, on August 20, 2010, Russia and Armenia signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in construction of new power units for the nuclear plant in Armenia. Despite different approaches to the terms of construction, which are primarily dependent on energy consumption in the country, Rosatom is always ready to construct a modern and safe power unit for clients within the timeframe set by the clients, and implement a cost-efficient project.
Rosatom’s subsidiary will implement the construction project. The Armenian side plans a 6-month maintenance outage. It this period enough?
I would like to clarify. The Metsamor nuclear plant is maintained by the plant staff and they set the timeframe. Rosatom’s subsidiary, Rusatom Service, is implementing a project of prolonging the operation of the nuclear plant. I can explain: the nuclear plant’s operating life is 30 years. However, the experience during the operation allows us to revise the period of operation of the power units, with modern safety norms considered. Rosatom has worked out a two-stage roadmap. The first stage is a comprehensive inspection of the power unit, preliminary appraisal of the equipment and pipelines of the reactor. It also envisages inspection of buildings, instrumental inspection and elaboration of a program to prepare the 2nd power unit for further operation. The Russian side has launched the work. We have involved 15 organizations and collected considerable initial data on the state of the 2nd power unit.
After the repair, Rosatom will start managing the Metsamor nuclear plant. What is the reason for Rosatom re-assuming this role if it stopped managing the nuclear plant ahead of schedule last time?
Rosatom is not going to manage the nuclear plant. After the repair, Armenia will continue managing it.
Rosatom’s subsidiaries are participating in prospecting for uranium in Armenia. So is there uranium in Armenia?
In 2008, the Rosatom corporation and Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection established a joint venture, Armenian-Russian Mining Company, which was to prospect for uranium in Armenia. The prospecting by the company in Armenia’s Syunik region in 2009-2012 verified reserves in the most promising field (Pkhrut). Given the domestic demand for nuclear fuel, the reserves could be Armenia’s strategic reserves for developing its national atomic energy sector, after the situation on the global uranium market has improved.
If I am right, Rosatom is constructing nuclear plants in Turkey. What is the progress?
At present, the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is at its initial stage. Last December the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning of Turkey prepared an environmental impact statement for the nuclear plant. This April, a commemorative capsule was laid at the maritime works construction site of the Akkuyu nuclear plant. The design work is to start soon, with the construction to be launched after the relevant documents are received. The zoning plan for the Akkuyu nuclear plant site has been completed and it has to be agreed on with the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning of Turkey. The documents may be approved after Turkey has amended a number of laws. The shore zoning plan has been completed. The construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant in the Mersin Province is progressing on schedule.
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