Armenia has decided to extend the operation period of its nuclear power plant until 2036, announced prime minister Nikol Pashinyan while speaking at the first Summit on Nuclear Energy in Brussels on March 21.
In December 2023, the Armenian government approved a project to extend the operation period of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), as stated by Pashinyan. "We aim to take timely and adequate measures to properly enhance management and safety in cooperation with partner states and under the guidance of the Agency," said Pashinyan.
According to him, this extension will lay a solid foundation for a smooth transition to a new power unit at the end of the extended operation period of the ANPP, which is the ultimate goal of the Armenian government.
"In this regard, Armenia is committed to developing close cooperation and utilizing the experience of both the IAEA and partner countries to determine the optimal solution for replacing the existing power unit.
"Our transparent and open policy of safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy will continue to guide our efforts to explore advanced nuclear technologies for further enhancing safety, efficiency, and environmental performance in our nuclear energy sector," he stated.
At the same time, Pashinyan expressed concern that ongoing conflicts worldwide, including recent ones "in our regions, not only threaten the security of nuclear facilities but also hinder the development of peaceful nuclear initiatives.
The Armenian NPP is the only nuclear power plant in the region, built during the Soviet era on the territory of Armenia near the city of Metsamor. It consists of two power units with VVER-440 reactors. The installed thermal capacity of one unit is 1375 MW, the electric capacity is 440 MW.
The operation and maintenance of the NPP are handled by the company "Rosatom." The nuclear fuel for the NPP is uranium, also imported from Russia. In Armenia, there is currently a discussion about the option of building a new NPP not based on Russian, but on Western modular technologies. It is not yet known which option the Government of Armenia will choose.
