Andrey Klimov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Duma:

 — Without fast development of new facilities Armenia takes risks to face a very difficult situation

On July 29 in Erevan the Armenian government meeting was held which approved conclusion of the agreement with the Russian government “On Cooperation in Construction of New Nuclear Power Units in the territory of Armenia”.

Andrey Klimov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Duma:

The only one currently operating power plant in Armenia  — Metsamor NPP — generating about a half of all electric power in the country is to be shut down soon since its lifetime is almost expired. Without fast development of new facilities Armenia takes risks to face a very difficult situation. That’s why the fact that Serzh Sargsyan’s team is looking for a partner in construction of a new NPP seems more than logic.

The choice in favor of Russia is also quite understandable. First of all, we have good economic relations and close political contact. Secondly, Metsamor NPP, “inherited” by Armenia from the USSR was built chiefly by Russian specialists. By the way, this plant withstood the damaging earthquake in Spitak because it had been designed as a seismic resistance construction. It is also recognized that since 2003 this plant has been under trust management of a Russian company – inter RAO UES. I think that all that – close economic relations, the common “nuclear” school, the Russian potential in the field of the nuclear power industry – all that put together determined the choice of the Armenian government.

It also should be remembered that the new NPP will be constructed not far from Metsamor, on the basis of already developed infrastructure, established in the Soviet times. That’s why, in my opinion, the fact that Russia will construct the new NPP is a kind of “historic justice”.