September 9, 2002 - 22:00 AMT
ARMENIAN ATOMIC POWER STATION TO FUNCTION UNTIL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCES CREATED IN ARMENIA
Armenian minister of finances and economy Vardan Khachatrian did not rule out the opportunity that the Armenian atomic power station would be repaired by means of EU funds. Although, in his words, 100 million US dollars, which the EU is ready to allocate to secure the Armenian nuclear power plant, are not sufficient, and it may be necessary to attract private investments. At the same time the minister stressed that the station would continue work until alternative energy sources were created in Armenia. In particular, the Armenian nuclear plant power can be made up by building from 10 to 20 hydroelectric power plants, which will become possible in case of influx of investments into Armenian energy field. "There is hope that it is a realistic project, and investments will have corresponding volume, as there is preliminary agreement on that," - V.Khachatrian said. Let us note that earlier EU specialists have repeatedly come out with demands to close the nuclear plant by 2004 due to energetic security considerations. According to expert estimates, the station can work till 2018.