A Technical Workshop was held in Armenia within the framework of the project “Nuclear Safety Regulatory Cooperation with the Armenian Regulator,” with the participation of experts from ANRA and NRSC, as well as the Consortium led by IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U. (Spain). The workshop aimed to review the progress of the ongoing projects, present the results of completed activities, and define next steps for implementation. During the event, participants presented and discussed action plans for the transposition of selected WENRA Safety Reference Levels and key Euratom Directives into Armenia’s legislative and regulatory framework. These included the Drinking Water Directive (Euratom 2013/51), the Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive (2013/59/Euratom), and Directive (2006/117/Euratom) on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel. These approximation efforts are carried out in line with Armenia’s obligations under the EU–Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the broader objective of systematically aligning national legislation with relevant EU requirements. In addition, the Consortium conducted and presented the results of a regulatory review of safety-related documentation, including the Level 2 Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) for internal initiating events. The evaluation of seismic safety enhancement measures, the implementation of hydrogen passive autocatalytic recombiners, and the full-scope simulator were also presented and discussed in detail. The findings were reviewed jointly with ANRA and NRSC specialists, enabling in-depth technical exchange and clarification of key aspects related to safety improvements at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. The workshop contributed to strengthening the national regulatory framework, enhancing the technical expertise and analytical capacity of ANRA and NRSC specialists, and further aligning Armenia’s nuclear and radiation safety system with European and international standards.
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.
