Pashinyan: Armenia has good opportunities for energy self-sufficiency
23.09.2026,
16:05
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the country has good opportunities to become energy self-sufficient.
YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the country has good opportunities to become energy self-sufficient.
"You know, in terms of new technologies, Armenia has good opportunities to become an energy self-sufficient country, as we possess enormous solar energy potential and our solar power generation capacity is developing rapidly," Pashinyan noted in New York during a panel discussion at the annual Concordia Summit, held alongside the UN General Assembly.
The Prime Minister stated that "the most important issue for us right now is the creation of energy storage capacity, as we currently lack sufficient storage systems. We need large-scale storage capacity, and we are working in this direction."
On Armenia's energy sector
By the end of 2025, the installed capacity of solar power plants in Armenia's energy system reached 1.1 GW, an increase of approximately 43% over the year. There were over 50,000 autonomous electricity producers in the country with a combined capacity of about 640 MW, and electricity generation by solar plants grew by 71.2%.
In August 2026, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that solar generation capacity in Armenia had reached 1,213 MW, up from 16 MW in 2018. Under the government’s program for 2026–2031, the next phase of the sector's development involves the creation of electricity storage systems; by 2031, authorities plan to secure at least 800 MW of storage capacity, enabling solar energy generated during the day to be stored for use at other times.
At the same time, Armenia remains heavily dependent on imported natural gas. According to World Bank estimates, gas accounts for approximately 63% of the country's total energy supply. The Bank views the expansion of renewable energy and storage systems as a key strategy for enhancing Armenia's energy security.
"You know, in terms of new technologies, Armenia has good opportunities to become an energy self-sufficient country, as we possess enormous solar energy potential and our solar power generation capacity is developing rapidly," Pashinyan noted in New York during a panel discussion at the annual Concordia Summit, held alongside the UN General Assembly.
The Prime Minister stated that "the most important issue for us right now is the creation of energy storage capacity, as we currently lack sufficient storage systems. We need large-scale storage capacity, and we are working in this direction."
On Armenia's energy sector
By the end of 2025, the installed capacity of solar power plants in Armenia's energy system reached 1.1 GW, an increase of approximately 43% over the year. There were over 50,000 autonomous electricity producers in the country with a combined capacity of about 640 MW, and electricity generation by solar plants grew by 71.2%.
In August 2026, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that solar generation capacity in Armenia had reached 1,213 MW, up from 16 MW in 2018. Under the government’s program for 2026–2031, the next phase of the sector's development involves the creation of electricity storage systems; by 2031, authorities plan to secure at least 800 MW of storage capacity, enabling solar energy generated during the day to be stored for use at other times.
At the same time, Armenia remains heavily dependent on imported natural gas. According to World Bank estimates, gas accounts for approximately 63% of the country's total energy supply. The Bank views the expansion of renewable energy and storage systems as a key strategy for enhancing Armenia's energy security.
