Pashinyan to Putin: Armenia is seeking suitable small modular nuclear power projects
YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Armenia is currently working and seeking suitable small modular nuclear power projects, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of World Atomic Week in Moscow.
"And, of course, we are also very actively engaged in dialogue with the Russian Federation on this issue," he said.
"Nuclear energy is very important for our country. You correctly noted that we are closely cooperating with the Russian Federation and working to extend the life of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant until 2036," he noted.
According to the Russian president, Armenia has had a nuclear power plant for a long time, which, "as you yourself stated at the forum, provides 30% of the country's electricity."
"This is a significant figure – a third of all electricity is generated by the nuclear power plant." "Rosatom is currently working on extending the life of this nuclear power plant, so your presence at the forum is entirely logical," Putin said.
About the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, 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 main sources of electricity, providing up to 40% of its total generation. Its service life has been extended until 2026, and work is underway to extend it for another 10 years.
The plan is to build a new nuclear power plant within 8-10 years. Various options are currently being compared and the experience of partners from Russia, the United States, and South Korea is being studied. A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1200 MW unit, developed by the Rosatom state corporation, is already under review by the Armenian side. Earlier, Rosatom First Deputy Director General Kirill Komarov, responding to a question from the ARKA news agency, stated that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacities ranging from 50 to 1000 MW. He added that it is possible, in particular, to assemble a reactor of any capacity from 50 MW units.
