YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. It is not ruled out that the management of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) will be again given to Inter RAO UES company (Russia). The RA minister of energy Armen Movsisian stated at the December 24 press conference that the term of the agreement on the ANPP's management expires next year, and negotiations on its extension are being conducted with Inter RAO UES. According to the minister, the ANPP generates electricity of 2.5 billion kwh a year, which makes up 40-50% of the country's domestic demand. Next year the ANPP will be stopped for 3 months for preventive repairs. In the words of A. Movsisian, Armenia cannot implement alone the work on closing the ANPP. As for construction of a new nuclear power plant, the feasibility study will finish in September 2008, after which the tender for contractor will be held.

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