Armenian deputy energy minister Areg Galstyan said last month that the Armenia 2 reactor in Metsamor will close in 2008. The European Union has insisted that the unit closes in 2004.
Galstyan pointed out that, in an agreement with the EU, the reactor — which supplies 40% of the electricity produced in the country — will be closed after the creation of alternative energy sources. Recently the EU announced plans to give Armenia 100 million Euros to build alternative power-generating facilities to replace the nuclear plant (see NEI March 2002, p4 or see links below).
Meanwhile, Jack Ramsey, from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for international programmes, said that the risk level at the Metsamor plant does not exceed internationally accepted levels.
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