2021 will be a defining year for Armenian NPP operation
2021 will be a defining year for Armenian NPP operation and the development of Armenian nuclear industry as a whole. These and other strategically important issues were discussed today during the visit of Suren Papikyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, and Sergey Kopyrkin, the Russian Federation Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, to the only NPP in Armenia. The visit was held to understand the progress of NPP upgrade works, which are aimed at improving its reliability and safety.
Rusatom Service JSC, member of the electric power division of the Rosatom State Corporation, is the general contractor for upgrade of ANPP. “Last year was not easy due to the pandemic, but we did a lot together with Armenian nuclear experts. A large amount of work was implemented: turbine generator overhaul was completed, instrumental examination of reactor CPS drives was conducted, instruments for non-destructive testing of metal were checked. The NPP was also prepared for reactor emergency core cooling system upgrade and recovery annealing of the reactor vessel. Annealing plant has been delivered to the NPP and assembly work has already been completed,” said Evgeny Salkov, Director General of Rusatom Service JSC.
The planned preventive maintenance (PPM-2021) will last longer than usual this year. Armenian NPP will be shut down for 141 days. Such a long shutdown is due to the need to complete the remaining NPP upgrade works, among which the reactor vessel annealing occupies an important place. “Prior to NPP shutdown, the 250-ton cranes of the reactor hall, which are necessary for the installation of the annealing plant, have yet to be upgraded. It will also be necessary to unload fuel and heavy equipment from the reactor. Everything in order to conduct annealing,” said Eduard Martirosyan, Director General of Armenian NPP. “After the successful holding of all planned events this year, the State Nuclear Safety Committee under the Government of Armenia will extend the license to operate the NPP until 2026. In addition, the physical and mechanical properties of the reactor vessel will be restored after the annealing and the NPP can be still operated after 2026.”