Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
The problem of the further fate of the Armenian Nuclear Power Station (ANPS) is still topical in Armenia. The parliament is considering a draft of the Armenian-Russian loan agreement on prolongation of the period of exploitation of the ANPS. The document requires that the Russian government will give $270 million as a loan and $30 million as a grant to Armenia for providing works on prolongation of the exploitation period of the ANPS till 2026. After that, the ANPS should be closed, and a new station which is going to be built by that time will start its operation.
In 2006 Armenia signed an Action Plan within the program of the EU's ‘New European Neighborhood’ and was obliged to shut the station down by 2016. According to the EU, the station has exhausted its potential and doesn’t meet the necessary standards of environmental security. The EU recommended that substitution facilities be built (today the ANPS produces 2 billion kWh annually, which is 30 percent of the entire balance of electricity power produced in Armenia) and didn’t rule out construction of a new modern NPS. With Russian support in providing works on improvement of security at the station, its exploitation period was prolonged till 2023. Along with Russia, the US, France, Germany and other countries played a role in improving the station’s security.
The problem of construction of a new NPS in the country, which passed through its heaviest energy crisis in 1992-1995, was always topical. In October 2009 the parliament adopted a draft ‘On Construction of a New NPS.’ The US and France had many times stated at the official level that they were interested in constructing the new NPS in Armenia. However, their interest didn’t turn into any results. At the same time, the Russian side took certain steps: in December 2009 the joint Armenian-Russian enterprise – Metsamorenergoatom – was established. In summer 2010 the intergovernmental agreement on construction of a new nuclear unit was concluded; more than 20 percent of its financing was provided by the Rosatom Company. An agreement on exports of Russian equipment to Armenia was also signed.
However, the construction works which should have been started in 2011 were frozen. Probably, the main reason for the pause which has been lasting for several years was the financial crisis. Initially, the Armenian side, referring to the initial calculations of local experts, stated that it needed $5 billion for the construction. Later, the sum decreased to $2 billion; while today some sources say that only $1 billion is needed to build a station with a similar or greater capacity. Perhaps the change in calculations depends on a decrease of consumption of electricity energy in the country and an absence of reasons for construction of a new unit of 1060-megawatt capacity, as had been planned. We should note that the current capacity of the ANPS is 815 megawatts.
Meanwhile, the EU continues insisting on shutting down the operating NPS. Against the background of the agreement on prolongation of the exploitation period and the Russian government’s decision on allocation of $300 million to fulfill the program, the head of the EU mission in Armenia, Trajan Christev, on behalf of the organization raised the problem of shutting the NPS down as soon as possible and adopting an action plan on putting it out of commission.
Some Armenian observers see in the strict position of the EU not only concerns about security issues, but also the West’s intention to reduce Russia’s influence in Armenia through shutting down the ANPS. Of course, such an issue cannot be based on economic factors only.
In the context of sharp competition between Russia and the West for influence in the region, the ANPS is still an important leverage for Moscow. Russia provides the station with fuel. Moreover, Russian experts projected the station and participated in its secondary launching in 1995.
Apparently, shutting down the current NPS will influence Russia’s weight in Armenia. That’s why Russia insists on prolongation of its exploitation period and construction of a new nuclear unit. According to experts, Yerevan’s foreign political and economic course determines choosing a Russian partner in construction of a new station. The new NPS will be geopolitically important, as it will improve Russia’s influence in Armenia.
