Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited "Armenian Nuclear Power Plant" CJSC to get acquainted with the performance report 2022.
Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Head of the State Supervision Service Romanos Petrosyan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Bagrat Badalyan, Deputy Minister of Finance Vahan Sirunyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Hakob Vardanyan, First Deputy Chairman of the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority Khachatur Khachikyan, the management staff of "ANPP" CJSC headed by General Director Eduard Martirosyan, other officials participated in the consultation.
The management staff of the Armenian NPP presented a report and the works carried out in 2022. It was noted that the operation period of the 2nd power unit of the NPP expired in 2016, and thanks to the large-scale modernization works, the operation period of the power unit was extended by 10 years. As a result, for the first time since 1995, the nuclear power plant is working at 100 percent thermal capacity, instead of 92 percent.
It was reported that the program of double extension of the operation period of the 2nd power unit is in progress. the works will be carried out in 2023-2026, the concept of double extension of the operation period was developed and agreed with the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee, the Government's draft decision is also ready, with which the process will start. As a result, it is expected that the 2nd power unit of the Armenian NPP will be able to operate safely until 2036.
Information was provided on the human resources and financial and economic indicators of "ANPP" CJSC.
There was also a reference to the strategic prospects of the Armenian energy sector, which envisaged development of low-carbon energy production through renewable and nuclear power generation until 2040. In this context, international leading experience was presented.
After the presentation of the report, an exchange of ideas took place. Future activities related with the further operation of the Armenian NPP, including the double extension of the operation period of power unit No. 2, the construction of a new power unit, professional training of personnel, international cooperation and other issues became the subject of discussion.
In the context of the development of the Armenian energy sector, the Prime Minister emphasized the consistent work towards the safe and reliable operation of the nuclear power plant and the continuous improvement of management efficiency.
The Head of the Government also toured the territory of the nuclear power plant, got acquainted with the overhauled systems and equipment in the technological chain of electricity production, including the modernization works of the block's control panel, information and computing, as well as other systems that ensure the safe operation of the plant.