The Armenian government will allocate AMD 165 million (US$340,560) to monitor and safely store chemicals being at the defunct Nairit Chemical Plant in Yerevan.

The Soviet-era industrial giant remains idle, with a crew of maintenance workers on hand to monitor safety at the plant.

A large fire broke out at Nairit in August 2017, fueling fears that toxic fumes had escaped into the environment.

In June of last year, the government allocated  AMD 177 million ($367,200) for the same purpose.