The X session of the Joint Coordination Committee on the Project of Unit 2 modernization and life extension at Armenian NPP took place in Moscow on 26 December. The representatives of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, Haykakan Atomayin Electrakayan JSC (Armenian NPP), Armatom Scientific Research Institute JSC, Rosatom including Rusatom Service, Rosenergoatom Concern and Private institution RAIN took part in the session.
Akob Vardyanyan, Deputy Minister of Territory Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia leaded the Armenian delegation and Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General for Corporate Development and International Business of Rosatom was the leader of the Russian delegation.
Discussing this year results, the Armenian and Russian parties gave an upbeat assessment of the operations under the Agreement on cooperation in the life extension of Unit 2 at Armenian NPP concluded between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Russian Federation on 20 December 2014. The parties made specific mention of the scope of work completed for a short period as part of the preventive maintenance without the unit shutdown that is unprecedented in the world practice.
The work completed at the ANPP in 2019 includes the following: safety improvement, overall modernization and equipment replacement in the turbine hall, design of the systems and equipment to be modernized and replaced, supplies of the required equipment. The plant modernization that is now in progress is to improve its safety in compliance to the international standards as well as its efficiency and operating costs.
The session participants discussed the action plan for the Armenian NPP life extension for 2020-2021.
The project is being implemented with great attention to the Armenian-Russian cooperation in personnel training for the Armenian nuclear industry. The quota are allocated every year for Armenian students could get education at Russian universities including ROSATOM-connected universities. ROSATOM and MEPhI (leading university of ROSATOM universities consortium) organize Physics and Mathematics Olympics and its winners and prize holders enjoy privileges in entering the major Russian technical universities.
In order to promote nuclear technologies, the Republic of Armenia organizes and holds events (the Nuclear Technology Day, the Science Festival and others) providing an opportunity for getting an idea of nuclear applications in various areas with the purpose of improving the life quality. This facilitates the winning of public acceptance as well as popularization of nuclear power that plays an important role in the life of the Republic of Armenia. Armenian NPP generates more than one third of the total electricity produced in the Republic, thus ensuring reliable electricity supplies at reasonable tariffs for residence and industry needs.