According to the press service of Armenia's Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) was disconnected from the power grid in an emergency shutdown.
The incident was triggered by a lightning strike, which caused the plant's safety systems to automatically initiate a safe shutdown mode.
The Ministry emphasized that this event demonstrates the effectiveness of the recent large-scale modernization efforts, including the upgrading of safety systems. "The safety systems are highly sensitive and respond promptly to any situation," the official statement said.
The incident occurred on the evening of August 30 and led to temporary power outages in several Armenian cities and some areas of the capital, Yerevan.
Armenian energy expert Vahe Davtyan considers the official version plausible, noting that such incidents are not uncommon in global practice. "Almost every year, nuclear power plants in Russia, the United States, China, France, Japan, South Korea, and other countries are shut down in emergency mode due to lightning strikes," Davtyan explained.
According to the expert, a typical scenario involves a lightning strike on an overhead power line, which triggers the protection system and shuts down the generator. It usually takes several days to restore the facility's operation.
Davtyan also touched on the topic of the potential decommissioning of the NPP, noting that this process is complex and costly. He estimates that decommissioning the Armenian NPP could cost $400-450 million, not including the expenses for disposing of spent nuclear fuel. For comparison, the decommissioning and dismantling of 17 NPPs in Germany was estimated at 18 billion euros.
Earlier BMG reported that the Armenian NPP supplies about one-third of the country's total energy needs. Its operational life was extended until 2036 after modernization, but it will need to be decommissioned and replaced afterward.
Currently, the operation of the Metsamor NPP relies on the Russian "Rosatom" for both fuel supplies and technological upgrades. However, in early August, the Armenian government established a state-owned company to build a new nuclear power unit to replace the existing plant.
It is expected that within the next two years, this company will present a plan for constructing the new NPP, including the selection of a technology supplier and the plant's capacity. Armenian officials have previously stated their intention to explore cooperation options with China, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
