Armenia negotiating construction of new nuclear power plant

Armenia is holding talks with Russia and the US on the construction of a new nuclear power plant (NPP) in the country, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told parliament.

"There is an issue of developing nuclear capacity in the Armenian government's program. The current Armenian nuclear power plant has a life span after which it cannot be operated. Now we are actively negotiating with several partners on the construction of a new nuclear power plant. Negotiations are held with Russia, the USA and third countries,” the premier, Interfax reports.

According to him, reactor options are being considered in terms of economic benefits.

"The Armenian delegation will shortly leave for the United States to study the possibilities of modular reactors on site," he said.

Armenia's partners are duly informed of all negotiations, the prime minister added.

Earlier on May 24, US State Department Coordinator for Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia Maria Longi said that the US is considering building small modular nuclear reactors in Armenia.

In November 2022 it was reported that Armenia signed a memorandum with "Rosatom" on the construction of a new energy block of NPP in the republic, and a preliminary feasibility study of the project is carried out.

In summer 2022 experts from Armenia and Russia began negotiations on the project of a future new nuclear power unit on the territory of the republic. In particular, the option of a typical standard VVER (pressurized water reactor) power unit with a capacity of 1-1.3 GW was considered.

In October 2021, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan said Armenia plans to start construction of a new nuclear power plant in 2026-2027. According to him, the Armenian side plans to start the operation of the new NPP after the cessation of activity of the operating plant in 2036.

Now the Armenian NPP is one of the main sources of electric energy in the country. The only unit (with a first-generation VVER-440 reactor) operates at the plant, and TVEL, Russian nuclear fuel cycle company, supplies fuel to it.