Armenia weighs partners for new nuclear reactor, Pashinyan says

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on January 29 that none of the concerns raised by experts regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant unit would be overlooked, stressing that decisions would be made only after all outstanding questions are addressed.

Speaking at a briefing following a government meeting, Pashinyan said Armenia is continuing discussions with multiple countries that possess nuclear technology, including France, the United States, Russia, South Korea, and China, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media. 

“At the moment, we are working with all our partners — France, the United States, Russia, South Korea, and China — and the necessary decisions will be made after receiving reliable answers to all possible questions,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan recalled that on August 8, 2025, he signed three memoranda of understanding in Washington with US President Donald Trump, one of which covered cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear energy.

Armenia’s existing nuclear power plant currently supplies about one-third of the country’s electricity. Its first power unit was commissioned in December 1976 and the second in January 1980. Following the 1988 Spitak earthquake, the plant was shut down in March 1989, before the second unit was restarted in November 1995.

The plant’s original operational lifespan was set to expire in 2016, but with the involvement of specialists from Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, it was extended until 2026. In December 2023, Rusatom Service and the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant signed a framework agreement to further extend operations until 2036. By that time, Armenian authorities expect a new power unit—effectively a new nuclear power plant—to be completed.

By Sabina Mammadli