Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

300 Million To Close Armenian Nuclear Plant

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • 300 Million To Close Armenian Nuclear Plant

    300 Million To Close Armenian Nuclear Plant

    Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
    Comments - Saturday, 31 May 2014, 15:25



    After meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during
    the meeting of CIS prime ministers Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan
    announced that Russia will lend 300 million dollars to Armenia to
    refurbish the Nuclear Power Plant of Metsamor.

    A few weeks ago, when Tigran Sargsyan was prime minister, the
    government of Armenia decided to prolong the work of the NPP for which
    the Russian loan is intended. This decision means that construction of
    the new NPP is postponed.

    Hence, Armenia boosts its external debt by another 300 million dollars
    to continue to operate the old NPP.

    Russia had committed to assistance in building the new nuclear plant.
    Armenia signed a contract with Rosatom. However, the Russians agree to
    finance 20% of construction costs only while the total cost is 4-5
    billion dollars.

    Serzh Sargsyan announced about construction of the new nuclear plant
    in October 2008. There has been no progress since then. Moreover, it
    has been successfully hibernated thanks to Russia which has assumed
    "leadership" of the new nuclear plant and thereby blocked involvement
    of other potential partners, instead implementing a 20 billion dollar
    NPP project in Turkey.

    The United States and France were interested in the new NPP in
    Armenia. The French President Sarkozy announced in 2011 in Yerevan
    that he was ready to second a working group to Armenia for a baseline
    study, as well as to look into the possibilities of participation of
    France. Apparently, France has discovered that there is no possibility
    for building a new NPP in Armenia because it is not in Russia's
    interest. And the Armenian government will not do something that is
    not in line with Russian interests, even if it is against the Armenian
    interest.

    Turkey's and Azerbaijan's vital interest requires that no new NPP be
    built in Armenia. They have several reasons, including energy,
    military and technological. It is peaceful atom, of course, but
    "miracles" may happen to this atom, given the scientific potential in
    Armenia.

    Moscow is actually serving their interests, as well as through a 20
    billion dollar deal on the Turkish NPP. Instead of building a new
    nuclear plant, they are trying to extend the operation of the old one,
    moreover, on a loan. Meanwhile, the old NPP is not forever, and sooner
    or later it will have to be closed. Apparently, a campaign will be
    conducted to shape public opinion as to Armenia does not need an NPP
    because it is danger. If Moscow does not hesitate to shape public
    opinion on uselessness of an independent and sovereign state, it will
    not take it much effort to work for uselessness of the NPP.

    In addition, the loan of 300 million dollar may include costs on public opinion.
    - See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32519#sthash.8cAVhmwJ.dpuf



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X