Yerevan, Armenia. The IAEA assessed the readiness of the Armenian NPP to extend the operation of the second power unit Economic development
On Thursday, a ten-day IAEA mission ended, assessing the readiness of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) for safe long-term operation of the second power unit. The nuclear power plant, built in the 1970s and consisting of two power units, is located 26 kilometers from Yerevan.
The mission was a continuation of inspections carried out in 2018 and 2021. The second power unit of the ANPP with a pressurized water reactor was put into commercial operation in 1980. The first power unit was shut down in 1989 after an earthquake in the northern regions of Armenia.
In 2021, the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (ANRA) extended the operation of the second unit until September 2026. Now the station is requesting permission to extend its operation for another ten years – until 2036.
The mission was attended by IAEA staff, specialists from Argentina, the Netherlands, Romania, Ukraine, Great Britain and the United States, as well as observers from Hungary and the World Association of Nuclear Power Plant Operators (WANO). Experts conducted several walkthroughs of the site and also consulted with staff.
According to the mission leader, IAEA official Bryce Lehman, “the plant has clearly made progress compared to what we observed during previous missions and has done much to correct the shortcomings that were previously identified.” He noted that many of the plant’s aging management and life extension activities meet IAEA safety standards.
“The plant has clearly made progress since previous missions,” said Bryce Lehman, noting that many of the plant’s management activities meet IAEA safety standards. He called on the management of the ANPP to continue implementing the “remaining activities” and “take into account the findings of the audit.
The team noted the successes of the ANPP, which can be scaled up in the global nuclear industry, and provided recommendations for further improvement safety.
The chief engineer of the station, Artur Grigoryan, emphasized the importance of the mission: “The experience and competence of the IAEA team will help us identify areas where improvements can be made.” He also noted that the audit will help “bring activities even closer to international safety standards.”