EU to demand earliest closure of Metsamor NPP

The European Union continues to request the earliest possible closure of the Armenian NPP in Metsamor as "it cannot be upgraded to meet internationally recognised nuclear safety standards".

The joint Document of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy in Armenia in 2011 issued today reads this, Mediamax reports.

"Armenia has not yet drawn up a detailed decommissioning plan for MNPP. Armenia continued the safety upgrading of the plant, which it plans to close once replacement capacity is available. Armenia is preparing the construction of a new Russian type nuclear power plant on the Medzamor site, although financing remains a major problem. Following the Fukushima nuclear accident, Armenia expressed readiness to undertake with the EU a comprehensive risk and safety assessment ('nuclear stress test') of the plant (VVR type of the first generation), taking account of EU standards. Armenia became an observer of the Energy Community", the Document reads.


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