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Approximately 43% of the electricity in Armenia is generated from one nuclear reactor located in Metsamor, about 30 km from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.[1] Metsamor NPP is the only one in South Caucasus. The power plant consists of two WWER-440/270 type reactors, where V 270 is similar to V 230, but seismically reinforced. The two units started construction in 1960's and came into operation in 1970's. Each reactor has an installed capacity of 407.5 MW.[2] Currently, only one unit is in operation.[3]
History
[edit]
The decision to build a nuclear power plant in Armenia was taken in August 1966. In August 1969, the project was approved by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The main challenge in designing the NPP was linked to the high seismicity of the area. However, it was decided that a plant that will persist up to a 9-magnitude earthquake would be constructed.
In December 6, 1988, a powerful earthquake occurred in Spitak city (near Metsamor). Due to safety concerns regarding seismic vulnerability, it was decided by the Council of Ministers of the USSR to stop the operation of the NPP in 1989.[2][4] The first unit was closed on 25 February, 1989, and the second unit was shut down on 18 March, 1989.[4]
After the collapse of the USSR, severe economic and energy crisis weakened Armenia. Because of this, in 1993, the Armenian Government decided to relaunch the second unit of the NPP. This was achieved in November 1995, after 6.5 years of shutdown. The reopening of the NPP was essential for Armenia as it helped to provide a constant supply of electricity to the residents.[2]
Future Plans
[edit]In 2007, authorities in Yerevan announced that they had to close Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, because there was too much pressure from the United States and the European Union. The authorities announced that Metsamor will stop working only if they find a new source of power that will cover more than 40% of Armenia's electricity. During the presidency of Robert Kocharyan, the Armenian Government affirmed that there are plans to build a new nuclear power plant which will have modern safety standards.[5]
In 2008, Serzh Sargsyan, the next president of Armenia, supported the idea, saying that it is one of the most important plans. According to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia, Armen Movsisian, the construction will take at least five years to complete. The cost of the project will be about US$5 billion, which cannot be covered solely by the Armenian Government and requires foreign investment. In 2007, the US government agreed to support a feasibility study by investing US$2 million.[6] Besides this investment, the only organization that publicly expressed interest in this project is the Russian Federal Agency of Atomic Energy (Rosatom) and its state-owned Atomstroyexport company. [5]
The new nuclear power plant will be twice as powerful as the Metsamor NPP. Its capacity will be provided by a 1,000-1,200 megawatts AES-92 unit, which will give Armenia a great electricity supply that can even be exported. In 2009, the Armenian Government approved a plan for a 50-50 Armenian-Russian establishment by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Atomstroyexport company[2]. In 2010, the Armenian and Russian Governments signed an agreement on building at least one VVER-1000 reactor, which will be undertaken by the Russian party [2]. In 2014, the Minister of Energy of Armenia announced that Russia is expected to provide $4.5 billion out of the required $5 billion. This project was expected to start in 2013. In May 2014, the Armenian Government noted that the construction will start in 2018. [2]
However, in 2015, The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yervand Zakharyan declared that the plan has been delayed as a result of the aftermath of the Fukushima accident.[5]
Safety Concerns and Waste Management
[edit]As Metsamor NPP is quite old, the European Union[2] and Turkey[2] argue that it should be shut down. However, the Armenian energy sector relies heavily on the NPP, and it is not possible to decommission it before a new NPP is built. In order to prolong the lifespan of the NPP, in September 2013 Russia gave its consent to both carry out and provide US$300 million for upgrading the plant to enable its life to be extended to 2026. For that purpose, the plant will be shut down for six months in 2017. During the restoration period the turbine of the NPP will be renewed to increase its power supply by 15-18%. Currently, safety upgrading activities are underway, and the technology of electricity generation is being improved.[2] The first National report under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management and Safety of Spent Fuel Management has been presented during the 5th review meeting in May 2015.[7]
There is no nuclear fuel cycle industry in Armenia and the country uses the scheme of an open nuclear fuel cycle. The fuel for the NPP operation is wholly supplied by Russia.[7] After using the fuel, it is placed into a dry shielding container (DSC) of NUHOMS-56M type.[8] The NUHOMS-56M type facility was constructed by a French company, Framatome, in 1996. It is designed to store spent fuel for about a 50 year period. The second stage of the fuel storage facility started operating in 2008.[9]
According to the design of ANPP, the annual radioactive waste of Unit 2 generation is: 308 m3 of solid Low-level waste, 1.5 m3 of solid Medium-level waste, 0.3 m3 of solid High-level waste, and 108 m3 of liquid Medium-level waste. At the ANPP, there is storage for both solid and liquid radioactive waste. High-level waste is stored in a special room of the Reactor building. The storage capacity is 78.34 m3. Medium-level waste is stored in the Special Building. Storage capacity is 1001.22 m3.[7]
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Armenia's nuclear plans rouse fears abroad | Environment | DW.COM | 02.08.2011". DW.COM. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Nuclear Power in Armenia". www.world-nuclear.org. October 2015. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ "Energy Overview of Armenia". www.geni.org. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ a b "History". armeniannpp.am. 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ a b c "Armenia Presses Ahead with Nuclear Power Plant Construction". jamestown.org. Emil Danielyan. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ "U.S. Backs Plans For New Armenian Nuclear Plant". www.azatutyun.am. Ruben Meloyan. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ a b c "Country Nuclear Power Profiles". www-pub.iaea.org. 2015. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ "Radioactive Waste Management Policy & Strategy". newmdb.iaea.org. 2013. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^
"THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA" (PDF). newmdb.iaea.org. Gevorg Gharibjanyan. 11–14 February 2013. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
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Category:Electric power in Armenia Category:Energy in Armenia Category:Nuclear power stations built in the Soviet Union Category:Nuclear power stations in Armenia Category:Nuclear power stations using pressurized water reactors Category:Nuclear power stations using VVER reactors