EUROCOMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDERS ANPP CAN BE CLOSED IN 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net - European Commission representative Alexis Loeber considers that it would be possible to close the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) in 2006 or in 2010, Guardian writes, noting that the EU froze the $100 million grant assigned for Armenia "as the government of the country refused to close the ANPP". In Loeber's opinion, the Armenian NPP has been built in an active seismological zone and poses a threat to the whole region. "We understand that it is impossible to close the station until Armenia is provided with alternative sources of energy, but it can become possible in 2006 or 2010", Loeber supposes. Armenian energy minister deputy Areg Galstian in his turn told Guardian that the ANPP should function till 2016. At the same time he noted that about $50 million was spent to strengthen protection of the plant.