Tag Archives: nuclear

Armenia to replace Mestamor

SEPT. 27 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenia will decide within the next two years what to replace the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant with when they decommission it in 2026, media reported quoting government officials. Metsamor, which lies 30km from Yerevan is controversial. It supplies 40% of Armenia’s power but the EU and the US want it closed down because they say it is a safety risk.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 298, published on Sept. 30 2016)

Armenia’s power production drops

JULY 4 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — Armenia’s Statistics Committee said that electricity production shrank by 1.9% in Jan.-May 2016 compared to the same period last year. Overall, the Metsamor nuclear power plant produced more than a third of Armenia’s 3.2b kWh output. Importantly, hydropower stations surpassed thermal power plants in their share of total electricity output for the first time.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 288, published on July 8 2016)

WB approves loan for Armenian power companies

APRIL 29 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – The World Bank approved a $30m loan to aid Armenia’s troubled power sector. The aim of the project is to give credit to state- owned power generation companies which have been losing money and rung up millions of dollars in debt. The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) has accumulated a deficit of $104m. Power generation, and how to pay for electricity, are sensitive subjects in the region.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 279, published on May 6 2016)

Armenia brings forward nuclear power repairs

APRIL 13 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Armenian government said it would bring forward repair works at the Metsamor nuclear power plant in 2017 after it agreed with Georgia to increase electricity imports. Areg Galstayan, deputy energy minister, said repairs, previously scheduled for November 2017 will be carried out six months earlier, in May. By bringing the repairs forward by six months, Armenia is showing it is confident that Georgia can supplement its power supply.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 276, published on April 15 2016)

Armenia’s power production rises

MARCH 22 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenia’s electricity production grew by almost 9% in February compared to the same period last year, pushed up again by the proliferation of small hydropower stations. For the first two months of 2016, electricity generation grew by 7% to 1.3b kWh. The Metsamor nuclear power plant accounted for 42% of the total power generation in the country. Power generation has become big business in the South Caucasus, with countries trying to meet a jump in demand.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 273, published on March 25 2016)

Kazakhstan scraps nuclear plans

DEC. 24 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Kazakh government has scrapped plans to build a new nuclear power station, despite years of speculation over its location, size and financing, media reported quoting energy minister Vladimir Shkolnik. Mr Shkolnik said the country was producing enough power from other sources, although the government’s shrinking budget probably played a role in the decision.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 262, published on Jan. 8 2016)

Armenia to shut down nuclear power

OCT. 7 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant will shut down in two stages in 2017-2018 as part of a planned modernisation of the plant, the Armenian government said. The ministry of energy had planned one 6- month long closure in 2017, but pressure on electricity prices have forced the government to split the period into two phases.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 251, published on Oct. 9 2015)

Turkmenistan joins global atomic energy agency

SEPT. 17 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmenistan has become the 166th member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global body charged with developing and encouraging the safe use of nuclear power, media reported.

While Turkmenistan’s accession to the IAEA may not have any major policy implications it is another signifier that Turkmen president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov wants to bring the country more into the international mainstream.

Turkmenistan normally stays away from joining international organisations.

IAEA members ratified Turkmenistan’s membership at their 59th annual summit in Vienna. also joining this year were the east African country of Djibouti, Guyana in South America and Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean.

Neutrality is enshrined in Turkmenistan’s constitution and not damaging this long-held policy would have been a key consideration for Mr Berdymukhamedov.

He has steadily moved Turkmenistan into the international mainstream, mainly to exploit Turkmenistan’s gas reserves.

It holds the world’s fourth largest gas reserves.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 248, published on Sept. 18 2015)

Kazakhstan to host nuclear fuel bank

AUG. 27 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a deal with the Kazakh government to host the first internationally-controlled bank of low-enriched uranium, an agreement that will boost Kazakhstan’s global stature. The idea is that countries can ask to tap into the supply for fuel for their power stations and prevent any unilateral nuclear build up.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 245, published on Aug. 28 2015)

Armenia receives World Bank power warning

JUNE 17 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenia faces a chronic shortage of electricity within three to four years unless it brings online extra generating capacity, the World Bank said in a report.

Power generation in Armenia is particularly controversial as it involves the Metsamor nuclear power station outside Yerevan.

Metsamor, built in the 1970s, generates around 40% of Armenia’s power but is considered a danger by the European Union because of its aging technology and location in an earthquake-prone zone. It has recommended that the power station is closed down although Armenia earlier this year elected to bring a Russian company in to extend the lifespan of the power station.

Lora Bailly, head of the World Bank office in Yerevan, said that even with Metsamor generating power, Armenia still faced a problem.

“Our analysis suggests that in the near future Armenia will need additional capacity to avoid power shortages. It is very important in three to four years to put into operation a new thermal power unit,” she said at a press conference in Yerevan.

And next year the Armenian government plans to close the Metsamor power station for six months for repairs.

Ms Bailly said that Armenia could supplement its current power generation with thermal power.

This month electricity shortages have been in focus in Armenia. The state regulators have just approved a 17% increase in electricity prices, the third rise in two years, irritating many Armenians. Opposition groups have promised protests.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 236, published on June 18 2015)