Rosatom working with Armenia on "Nairit" and NPP projects
29.09.2026,
13:19
Rosatom is working with Armenia on the "Nairit" project (addressing the environmental legacy of the "Nairit" synthetic rubber plant), said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the state corporation, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
YEREVAN, September 29. /ARKA/. Rosatom is working with Armenia on the "Nairit" project (addressing the environmental legacy of the "Nairit" synthetic rubber plant), said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the state corporation, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We are working with our Armenian partners on the 'Nairit' project; I think we will be able to provide assistance there as well," TASS quoted Likhachev as saying.
In addition, he noted, work is continuing at the Armenian NPP.
"We cannot leave Armenia out of the picture, as we are extending the plant's service life. The management there will decide which path to take, but we maintain a presence there," Likhachev said.
About the Armenian NPP
The Armenian NPP—the only one in the South Caucasus region—is located near the town of Metsamor, approximately 30 km west of Yerevan.
The plant is one of the country's primary sources of electricity, accounting for up to 40% of total generation. Its operational lifespan has been extended to 2026, and work is underway to extend it for another 10 years.
Armenia plans to build a new NPP within the next 8–10 years; various options are currently being compared, and the experience of partners is being studied. As Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently stated, negotiations regarding this matter are underway with five countries: the USA, Russia, China, France, and South Korea.
A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1,200 MW unit, developed by the state corporation Rosatom, is already under consideration by the Armenian side. Earlier, Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General of Rosatom, stated in response to a question from the ARKA news agency that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacities ranging from 50 to 1,000 MW. According to him, it is possible, for instance, to "assemble" a reactor of any desired capacity using 50 MW units.
About Nairit
Nairit, one of the flagships of the USSR's chemical industry, held a monopoly on rubber production. In 1989, the Nairit production association was shut down under pressure from the environmental movement. Approximately 13,000 tons of hazardous waste remained at the facility's site.
"We are working with our Armenian partners on the 'Nairit' project; I think we will be able to provide assistance there as well," TASS quoted Likhachev as saying.
In addition, he noted, work is continuing at the Armenian NPP.
"We cannot leave Armenia out of the picture, as we are extending the plant's service life. The management there will decide which path to take, but we maintain a presence there," Likhachev said.
About the Armenian NPP
The Armenian NPP—the only one in the South Caucasus region—is located near the town of Metsamor, approximately 30 km west of Yerevan.
The plant is one of the country's primary sources of electricity, accounting for up to 40% of total generation. Its operational lifespan has been extended to 2026, and work is underway to extend it for another 10 years.
Armenia plans to build a new NPP within the next 8–10 years; various options are currently being compared, and the experience of partners is being studied. As Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently stated, negotiations regarding this matter are underway with five countries: the USA, Russia, China, France, and South Korea.
A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1,200 MW unit, developed by the state corporation Rosatom, is already under consideration by the Armenian side. Earlier, Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General of Rosatom, stated in response to a question from the ARKA news agency that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacities ranging from 50 to 1,000 MW. According to him, it is possible, for instance, to "assemble" a reactor of any desired capacity using 50 MW units.
About Nairit
Nairit, one of the flagships of the USSR's chemical industry, held a monopoly on rubber production. In 1989, the Nairit production association was shut down under pressure from the environmental movement. Approximately 13,000 tons of hazardous waste remained at the facility's site.
