OREANDA-NEWS. February 6, 2008. Prime ministers of Russia and Armenia have discussed a wide range of problems concerning bilateral cooperation in the field of use of nuclear energy

During a meeting in Yerevan, Prime Minister of Russia Viktor  Zubkov and Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan discussed a wide range of problems concerning bilateral cooperation in the field of use of nuclear energy.

The prime ministers confirmed their commitment to further enhance the safety and efficiency of the 2nd unit of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant on the basis of the international and Russian experience and to consider ways to develop nuclear power capacities in Armenia.

 “The Government of Armenia is going to announce a tender for the construction of new nuclear power plant. We are going to take part in it and we have quite good chances to win,” the director general of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko told journalists after the meeting.

The sides also exchanged notes confirming Armenia’s joining the International Uranium Enrichment Center, established by Russia and Kazakhstan in May 2007.

The Ministry of Ecology of Armenia and Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation signed a memorandum on the establishment of a Russian-Armenian joint venture for prospecting uranium and other mineral resources in Armenia. Russia and Armenia have equal (50/50) shares in the company’s authorized capital. The company will start its activities as soon as the project is approved by the state ecological inspection – in Sept 2008.

Kiriyenko said that the JV would have access to all Russia-based archives on uranium reserves in Armenia. Russia is ready to finance additional prospecting and industrial development of uranium in Armenia.

Thus, Russia and Armenia are starting projects in all segments of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.