The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was built in Soviet times near the town of Metsamor in the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and consists of two VVER-440 reactor units. Life extension of Unit 2 is Rosatom’s key project in Armenia. The service contract was signed in June 2015 for a total price of 300 million US dollars. The Armenian NPP life is to be extended for 10 years.

The committee meeting was devoted to the scheduled maintenance and repair activities at the nuclear plant in 2016, and discussion of plans for 2017. Last year’s maintenance and repair program included assessment of steel condition and welding seams of the reactor vessel, piping, and steam generators. Other activities planned for 2016, including equipment audit and remaining life assessment, were completed on schedule. (For more details, please read our report at http://rosatomnewsletter.com/armenian-npp-life-to-be-extended-for-10-years.html).

The committee discussed steps to obtain an operation permit for Unit 2 of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, and retrofit plans for 2017. The plans provide for nuclear engineering companies, service integrators and other contractors to be engaged in the reactor unit modernization project.

“First of all, we need to focus on the preparations for maintenance and repairs scheduled for 2017 to fulfill all the tasks on time and in the most efficient way,” said Kirill Komarov, Rosatom’s First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business, who headed the Russian delegation. He also noted that the 2017 activities would involve examination and repair of the plant equipment.

Following the request of the Armenian State Committee on Nuclear Safety Regulation, the scope of equipment to be examined was extended earlier this year to include 150 equipment categories versus 100 categories in the previous year. According to Vladimir Bredov, a project manager from the Russian side, maintenance activities will be supported by engineers from the Kola and Novovoronezh nuclear plants, which are twinned with the Armenian facility.

Significant local input

Large-scale modernization will begin at the cooling tower later this year. A great contribution is expected to be made by Armenian companies. According to Evgeny Salkov, CEO of Rusatom Service, supply contracts have been signed for almost all components with long lead times. This means that the plant equipment retrofit can start already in 2018. Following the meeting, decision were taken to update the licensing schedule for Armenian NPP Unit 2, develop a master schedule for life extension preparation activities, and draft an investment plan for the project. The parties also agreed to expand cooperation in workforce training and facilitation of nuclear awareness.