The use of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes has always been encouraged in Armenia, both during the Soviet era and now. Since the 1950s, Armenia has been effectively using this technology in a wide range of fields, such as energy, medicine, agriculture, industry and scientific research. Despite its advantages, the generated radioactive waste management is a significant challenge requiring an integrated approach to ensure both safety and sustainability. The Government of the Republic of Armenia considers the use of nuclear energy and technologies to be one of the pivotal elements of economic development. Accordingly, the Government is conducting studies on the construction of new nuclear power plants, considering both high-power reactors, and small-power and modular reactors, taking into account economic, infrastructural and compatibility with the energy system of Armenia. In the Republic of Armenia, the largest amount of radioactive waste is generated as a result of the Armenian NPP operation, and will also be generated during the decommissioning of the NPP. A relatively small amount of radioactive waste (institutional-type waste) is generated also from non-nuclear applications, such as science, industry, healthcare and other sectors. Radioactive waste generated during the operation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and expected after its decommissioning, as well as institutional-type waste, requires safe and effective management to avoid long-term environmental risks and not leave an unnecessary burden on future generations. Thus, it is necessary to create a safe, reliable and flexible system for managing all types of radioactive waste accumulated and to be generated in the country, which will require the development and upgrade of the necessary infrastructure for long-term and safe management of radioactive waste, including the creation of a comprehensive legal framework. The Republic of Armenia has developed a Strategy for the Safe Management of Radioactive Waste, which includes: • Establishment of a National Operator, a body under the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, responsible for long-term management of radioactive waste; • Introduction and implementation of the “polluter pays” principle, creation of a special “off-budget” account; • Implementation of measures to keep the generation of radioactive waste at the lowest possible level, as well as strengthening the control over it; • Study of the possibility of disposing of the radioactive waste in geological formations; • Improvement of the system for the processing and storage of radioactive waste, personnel training and development/upgrade of radioactive waste electronic recording system. For the implementation of the provisions stipulated in the strategy, a working group comprised of professionals specialised in radioactive waste management was formed by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, in 2020. The aim of the group is to facilitate the implementation of the Strategy provisions for the Safe Management of Radioactive Waste in the Republic of Armenia. Work has begun on upgrading radioactive waste management systems at the Armenian NPP, as well as improving the overall legislative framework. The establishment of a National Waste Management Operator is of vital importance. NATIONAL OPERATOR Many countries operating nuclear power plants (e.g. Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, France, etc.) have a special organisation, the National Operator, which deals with the radioactive waste long-term and sustainable management related issues. The National Operator coordinates and organises the collection of financial resources necessary for the management of radioactive waste, scientific and investment work activities, human resources management and recruiting, construction of various radioactive waste management facilities, etc. In different international platforms (IAEA), the Republic of Armenia is asked regarding steps aimed at organizing the long-term and sustainable radioactive waste management system in the Republic of Armenia. This is also a request from the Conventions ratified by the Republic of Armenia and the IAEA safety standards. Therefore, the creation of a National Operator is a necessary and priority step that should be implemented by the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, contributing towards having the long-term safe management system of existing and emerging radioactive waste in Armenia, as well as meeting the requirements of international conventions, IAEA safety standards, relevant EU directives, and regulatory requirements in force in the Republic of Armenia.
A technical meeting organized by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory was held in Yerevan. The meeting aimed at presenting interested parties with the progress of preparatory work related to the removal of high-activity radioactive sources and transfer to the storage facility. High-activity radioactive sources have been in Armenia since the Soviet era and are no longer in use. For decades, they have been stored in a bunker at a scientific research institute, but now there is a need to move them to a safer storage facility. Armenia lacks experience in this area. For the first time, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center has developed a plan for their removal and transportation from the bunker in compliance with the highest safety standards. The Center is cooperating with a specialized US laboratory, whose specialists were invited to Armenia to discuss the program. The preparatory stage includes a thorough inspection of the site, an assessment of the necessary materials and equipment, as well as a detailed development of a safety plan. It is essential to minimize risks to the personnel involved, the public, and the environment throughout the process. The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee of the Republic of Armenia, Radioactive Waste Storage CJSC(RADON), as well as specialists from the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to ensure global nuclear safety, security and responsible management of radioactive materials. Both Armenia and the United States emphasize the importance of international cooperation in reducing nuclear risks.
The International Conference on Enhancing Nuclear Safety and Security Through Technical and Scientific Support Organizations (TSOs): Challenges and Opportunities in a Rapidly Changing World was hosted at the Headquarters in Vienna from 2-6 December 2024. It brought together experts from all over the world to exchange the best practices and enhance the technical and scientific capacities of TSOs to enhance and promote their potential contribution to the nuclear and radiation safety and security of facilities and activities. The special session was devoted to the IAEA-developed TSO Self-Capability Assessment Methodology aimed to assess and further develop the TSO scientific and technical capabilities, and evaluate how these are developed, sustained and applied in regulatory functions. The tool is of high interest for the TSOs worldwide and many Member States expressed their desire to implement it in their TSOs. In 2024 TSO self-assessment with the TOSCA toll was concluded in 2 countries – Armenia and Ghana. NRSC representative Marina Simonyan participated in the special session. She shared with the participants the company’s experience of conducting self-assessment with the IAEA-developed tool. The results of the self-assessment were discussed with the IAEA expert team during the National Workshop held in Armenia on 19-21 November 2024 and summarized in the recommendations, which will serve as a basis to develop an “Action plan” for their implementation.
On November 19-21, 2024, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center together with the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee hosted the expert team of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of the national workshop held in Armenia․ The purpose of the workshop was to get acquainted with the process of applying the TOSCA tool for self-assessment and its results․ The Center presented the results of its self-assessment and SWOT analysis to IAEA experts. The results of further discussions and analyses were summarized in the report of recommendations and findings published by the IAEA expert group, which will later serve as the basis for the development of the Action Plan. The experience of the Center for the application of the TOSCA tool will be presented at the IAEA during the international conference, which will take place on December 2-6, in Vienna/ Austria.
Երևանը պաշտոնապես դիմել է Վաշինգտոնին միջուկային հարցերում համագործակցելու համար, ԱՄՆ-ն ուսումնասիրում է Հայաստանի դիմումը։ Եթե Նահանգները հաստատի հայտը, Հայաստանը կարող է ստանալ ամերիկյան քաղաքացիական միջուկային տեխնոլոգիաներ՝ նոր ատոմակայան կառուցելու համար։ Դիմումը հաստատելու կամ մերժելու հնարավոր ժամկետների մասին ոչինչ չի հաղորդվել։ «Տեղեկատվությունը Հայաստանին փոխանցելու համար հարկավոր է որոշակի պարտավորություններ վերցնել՝ հայկական կողմը պետք է պարտավորություններ վերցնի, և հենց այդ, այսպես կոչված, 123 համաձայնագրի նպատակներից մեկն էլ դա է, որ մենք միանալով այդ համաձայնագրին՝ պարտավորվում ենք ինֆորմացիան, տեղեկատվությունը երրորդ կողմին չփոխանցել», – «Ազատության» հետ զրույցում ասաց Միջուկային և ռադիացիոն անվտանգության գիտատեխնիկական կենտրոնի ղեկավար Արմեն Ամիրջանյանը: Ավելի մանրամասն կարդալ այստեղ։
