The Press Service of the RA Tigran Sargsyan informed that the new nuclear power (NPP) plant will be constructed in 50/50 principle. The fact that Russia leaves 50% to Armenian side is a strategically surprising plan.
The price of the newly constructed NPP will be $5 billion and it turns out the Russian side will be paying $2.5 billion, and the Armenian side – the similar number.
As the political analyst Aram Amatuni states, Moscow understands it very well that Armenia will not manage to get the remaining $2.5 billion and will eventually turn to Moscow to buy the other half of the whole. From this point of view the analysis of “AmRusGazard’s” evolution is of interest which initially was projected to be 45-45-10 where Armenia and Russia would get the 45% and the other 10% – an irrelative company “Iterain” which was nothing but another source of money stream. In the course of time “AmRusGazard” became totally a Russian property. Amatuni believes Moscow having this example at stake has initiated the NPP project where the whole will sooner or later be on the Russian side.
Tigran Sargsyan assures that the US, japan and even Middle East are interested in supporting this project. Recently Armenia signed an agreement on the energy sector which dealt with the new NPP construction issue. Amatuni states it is still vague which part is really interested in conctributing to the new NPP construction in Armenia, the political analyst also highlights whether the interested sides from the Middle East are Muslims o Christians which cannot be neglected taking into account the political and strategic significance of the NPP. There is an agreement between the US and Armenia that the old NPP will be exploited until 2016 which means the construction of the new NPP will not take place in the near future.
Amatuni concludes his political analysis stating that the issue of the new NPP construction in Armenia remains open and which is the worst part in this case – Armenia does not have authority in the issue. Either Russia or the US will hold the final say.
