By 2036, Armenia’s operating nuclear power plant is scheduled for decommissioning. In anticipation, the Republic of Armenia must confront a range of complex challenges, foremost among them, the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Since 1989, Armenia has not exported any spent nuclear fuel. All such material remains stored on-site at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, posing long-term safety, environmental, and logistical concerns. “Armenia is a small country with limited specialists and experienced institutions in the field of radioactive waste management,” noted Armen Amirjanyan, Director of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre, in an interview with A1+ news agency. “It is essential to mobilise all available resources to develop a comprehensive system that prevents this issue from becoming a burden for future generations. This work must begin without delay, as time is limited. Prompt action is critical to ensure the safety of both the population and the environment.” How is Armenia preparing for this transition? What strategies has the government adopted, and what concrete measures are underway to meet the challenges ahead? Armen Amirjanyan, Director of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre, explored these questions and more in an interview with A1+ news agency.
The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre has developed a special software tool, RAD-MAP, for the Radiation Safety Department of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. RAD-MAP is designed to improve the management of various operational tasks among staff and shift teams. Specifically, the application enables the management to assign tasks and define their frequency, attach relevant radiometric maps (cartograms), store task completion results, monitor progress, and generate various queries and reports. Notably, the system allows all measurement results and data to be stored in a centralised database without affecting performance, ensuring efficient and reliable data management. The implementation of RAD-MAP aims to streamline workflow and enhance coordination of the Radiation Safety Department at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.
Representatives of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre (NRSC) and the Armenian Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee (ANRA) took part in the first technical meeting in Trnava (Slovakia). The meeting was held within the framework of an EU assistance project. During the visit, Armenian experts held a series of meetings and discussions with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Slovakia (UJD), as well as with representatives of key institutions in the nuclear field, VUJE and JAVYS. The discussions focused on Slovakia’s experience in managing radioactive waste, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and aligning national legislation with EU Directives and the Safety Reference Levels established by WENRA. It is worth noting that Slovakia and Armenia operate similar VVER-type nuclear reactors. Such meetings are of great importance for Armenia, especially in the context of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between Armenia and the European Union, which calls for alignment of Armenia’s legal and regulatory framework with selected EU Directives. The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre is actively contributing to this harmonisation process. To date, the NRSC has developed draft versions of the following key documents: “Safety Requirements for Radioactive Waste Management,” “Requirements for Radiation Protection and Safety,” and “Procedure for State Registration of Radioactive Waste.” In addition, a new draft of the Atomic Law of the Republic of Armenia has been prepared and is currently in the finalisation stage.
«Լիդիան Արմենիա» ՓԲԸ-ի կողմից ներկայացված տվյալների վերլուծություն Analysis of data provided by Lidian Armenia CJSC Анализ данных предоставленных ЗАО “Лидиан Армения”
