Armenia`s vice-premier, U.S, Department of State rep discuss nuclear energy cooperation

ArmInfo. Armenia's Vice-Premier  Mher Grigoryan hosted a delegation led by Mr Justin Friedman, Senior  Advisor in the Department of State's Bureau of International Security  and Nonproliferation. Attending the meeting was also U.S. Ambassador  to Armenia Kristina Kvien. 

Mr Grigoryan briefed the U.S. delegation on Armenia's energy  challenges and highlighted the importance of Armenia's involvement in  the regional energy projects.  

The sides discussed cooperation in nuclear energy and exchanged views  on the global human capital development trends, high technologies and  reforms in Armenia. 

This June, Armenia's premier signed a decree forming an interagency  commission to discuss issues of construction of a new nuclear power  plant. 

The Committee on Nuclear Safety Regulation of the Republic of Armenia   and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed an   expanded Cooperative Arrangement on the exchange of technical  information and cooperation on nuclear safety matters in Washington,   USA, on March 14, 2023.

Maria Longi, Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and   Central Asia, stated that in a number of countries, including   Armenia, the U.S. was assessing the feasibility of small modular   nuclear reactors built with US technology that could facilitate   greater energy independence from both Russia and China.

Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated that small modular nuclear  reactors with a capacity of 70 MW enable the existing capacities to  be gradually built up.