Slovakia's VUEZ supplies alternative water supply equipment to Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
YEREVAN. June 16 (Interfax) - Slovakia's VUEZ has supplied alternative water supply equipment to the Armenian Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant as part of an EU-funded project.
"The EU supports Armenia's nuclear safety by implementing additional measures for conducting stress tests. Alternative water supply equipment, funded by the EU and supplied by the Slovak company VÚEZ to the Armenian nuclear power plant, has successfully passed factory and acceptance tests, confirming full compliance with technical requirements," the Armenian NPP press service said.
The European Union's support for Armenia in strengthening nuclear safety includes the provision of EU technical expertise, as well as the provision of modern equipment to ensure safety in severe accidents.
The European Union continues to support Armenia in strengthening nuclear safety through the implementation of measures identified based on the results of the stress test assessment in keeping with European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) and Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association (WENRA) specifications.
"One of the key measures within the framework of this EU project was the supply of independent alternative water supply equipment designed to enhance the plant's resilience in emergency situations," the press service said.
The project, delivered by Slovakia's VUEZ, included the supply of equipment providing alternative water supply to the primary circuit, alternative water supply to the steam generators, alternative water supply to the spent fuel pools, alternative water supply to the spray ponds of the technical water supply system for essential consumers, and an alternative water supply to the demineralized water storage tanks. Auxiliary equipment and tools necessary for operating the systems was also supplied.
These measures further enhance the safety and reliability of the NPP power unit, enhance its ability to support critical heat removal functions during severe accidents.
The equipment underwent factory acceptance testing at EU-accredited test facilities, followed by on-site acceptance testing from June 8 to 11.
The Armenian NPP is one of the country's main sources of electricity. The station operates a single power unit, with a first generation VVER-440 reactor, and its fuel is supplied by Russia's TVEL corporation.
Rosatom gave Armenia a package of detailed proposals on the construction of a new nuclear power plant unit at the end of December.
The United States will invest $9 billion in Armenia's nuclear energy sector, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in Yerevan on February 9.
U.S. firm Sargent & Lundy completed a pre-feasibility study in May for replacing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant unit with small modular reactors using American technology.
