The Russian state corporation Rosatom has started an inspection of the radioactive waste (RAW) storage facility at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. This work is being conducted as part of preparations for extending the operation of the plant's second power unit until 2036.
According to Rosatom's press service, specialists from two of the corporation’s subsidiaries, JSC "Rosatom Service" and JSC "Pilot Demonstration Center for Decommissioning Uranium-Graphite Nuclear Reactors" (PDC UGR), are involved in the inspection.
The primary goal of the inspection is to assess the possibility of safely and reliably storing radioactive waste at the Armenian NPP site during the next operational period of the plant.
The first facility to be inspected was the low-level solid waste storage, which contains radioactive materials accumulated throughout the plant’s operation since its commissioning in 1980.
Based on the results of the research, specialists from PDC UGR will prepare a report on the feasibility and timelines for the continued use of the RAW storage facility.
This work is part of a larger project to inspect the entire complex of buildings and structures at the Armenian NPP, conducted by "Rosatom Service."
Earlier BMG reported that the Armenian NPP supplies about one-third of the country's total energy needs. Its operational life was extended until 2036 after modernization, but it will need to be decommissioned and replaced afterward.
Currently, the operation of the Metsamor NPP relies on the Russian "Rosatom" for both fuel supplies and technological upgrades. However, in early August, the Armenian government established a state-owned company to build a new nuclear power unit to replace the existing plant.
It is expected that within the next two years, this company will present a plan for constructing the new NPP, including the selection of a technology supplier and the plant's capacity. Armenian officials have previously stated their intention to explore cooperation options with China, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
