Armenia risks losing nuclear energy expertise if it abandons Russian technology – Rosatom head
27.05.2026,
21:15
Armenia risks losing its nuclear energy expertise if it abandons Russian nuclear technology. Alexey Likhachev, head of the Rosatom state corporation, told Izvestia on May 27.
YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. Armenia risks losing its nuclear energy expertise if it abandons Russian nuclear technology. Alexey Likhachev, head of the Rosatom state corporation, told Izvestia on May 27.
"Armenia is the only country in the Caucasus that proudly carries the banner of nuclear energy. And not only does it carry it effectively, but it also addresses the key challenges of energy security and energy system stability. <...> And losing this expertise, that is, losing nuclear energy altogether [due to abandoning Russian technology], in my opinion, would be, to put it mildly, absolutely unsustainable," he said. Likhachev emphasized that Yerevan must decide on a partner for the further development of nuclear energy beyond 2036 as early as 2026–2027. He called these deadlines extreme and the situation paradoxical, but emphasized that it is Yerevan that makes the decision.
According to the head of Rosatom, there are essentially only two fully-fledged nuclear technologies in the world—the American and the Soviet, which later became Russian. The others, Likhachev noted, are modifications of these technologies.
"At a minimum, [Armenia] will have to retrain for completely different technologies. <...> They have the right to choose American technology, but this would largely involve a redesign of both the personnel training system and operational competencies," he explained.
Likhachev also questioned the readiness of American small modular reactors for practical use, noting that no similar facilities are currently under construction anywhere in the world. "Choosing based solely on a presentation, in my opinion, is not entirely businesslike," the head of the Russian state corporation concluded.
Armenian authorities have stated that they have already decided on the type of future (new) nuclear power plant—modular—and that a specific model will be selected by the end of 2027. The operating life of the existing second power unit of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant has been extended until 2036.
"Armenia is the only country in the Caucasus that proudly carries the banner of nuclear energy. And not only does it carry it effectively, but it also addresses the key challenges of energy security and energy system stability. <...> And losing this expertise, that is, losing nuclear energy altogether [due to abandoning Russian technology], in my opinion, would be, to put it mildly, absolutely unsustainable," he said. Likhachev emphasized that Yerevan must decide on a partner for the further development of nuclear energy beyond 2036 as early as 2026–2027. He called these deadlines extreme and the situation paradoxical, but emphasized that it is Yerevan that makes the decision.
According to the head of Rosatom, there are essentially only two fully-fledged nuclear technologies in the world—the American and the Soviet, which later became Russian. The others, Likhachev noted, are modifications of these technologies.
"At a minimum, [Armenia] will have to retrain for completely different technologies. <...> They have the right to choose American technology, but this would largely involve a redesign of both the personnel training system and operational competencies," he explained.
Likhachev also questioned the readiness of American small modular reactors for practical use, noting that no similar facilities are currently under construction anywhere in the world. "Choosing based solely on a presentation, in my opinion, is not entirely businesslike," the head of the Russian state corporation concluded.
Armenian authorities have stated that they have already decided on the type of future (new) nuclear power plant—modular—and that a specific model will be selected by the end of 2027. The operating life of the existing second power unit of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant has been extended until 2036.
