OMM Redaksiyası
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has proposed building a new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power unit in Armenia. The company’s Director General Alexey Likhachev made the announcement after meetings in Yerevan with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.
Likhachev said the talks continued agreements reached during earlier discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. He described the meetings as in-depth in terms of technical expertise and broad in scope.
Rosatom’s new project proposal
The Rosatom chief said the company had submitted the Armenian government a concrete proposal for a 1,000-megawatt power unit based on its VVER-1000 design. He said the most competitive proposal should be prepared in the coming months so that Armenia can select a construction partner and suppliers.
Likhachev said nuclear energy had prospects in Armenia over the coming decades.
Future of the operating plant
The extension of the operating period of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was also discussed during the meetings. Armenia is considering extending the plant’s operation until 2046. Rosatom said it was ready to carry out the necessary work if such a decision is made.
At the same time, the company stressed that the extension should be assessed not only in terms of technical feasibility but also economic efficiency. Continuing the plant’s operation could require significant investment.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned in 1976 and is located about 30 kilometers west of Yerevan and 16 kilometers from the Armenia-Türkiye border. One power unit is currently operating at the plant. The other unit was shut down after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in 1988 that killed at least 25,000 people.
According to Rosatom, the parties also discussed extending the plant’s operating license until 2036 and prospects for developing new nuclear power capacity in Armenia.
Armenia assessing international proposals
Nikol Pashinyan’s office said Yerevan was considering proposals from international partners on the construction of a new nuclear power unit and was expected to make a decision soon.
According to the statement, the final selection will be based on economic criteria, taking into account price, quality, safety, implementation timelines and guarantees. Likhachev also presented options for a new nuclear power plant, as well as small- and medium-capacity power units and mechanisms for implementing them.
