On March 25 Head of the EU delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea presented the report "Armenia's Implementation of the EU "Eastern Partnership" Programme": the 2014 recorded progress and Activity Suggestions". The Head of the delegation said that Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant's prescheduled shot- down was still a number one priority for the EU.
According to the diplomat, the APS does not meet the modern standards of atomic security and Metsamor is to be decommissioned.
"The new station is to meet the international security standards. The Armenian government has declared about the plant life extension till 2016. Given this, in 2015 the station will be inspected by the partners", said Hristea.
The report states the necessity to take actions to close down the plant as soon as possible.
The Armenian Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, was built during the 1970s, only 36 kilometres west of the Armenian capital ofYerevan in the town of Metsamor. The plant was constructed with two VVER-440 Model V270 nuclear reactors. The Metsamor plant is one of just a few remaining nuclear power reactors that were built without primary containment structures. Metsamor NPP lies near earthquake-prone terrain.
Minister of Energy Yervand Zakharyan said to ArmInfo that in spring 2017 the plant's operation would be suspended. The plant will be renovated in order to extend its life until 2027.