Capacity of future nuclear power unit will be decisive when choosing - ANPP Head

ArmInfo. Yerevan has not yet made a decision on the construction of a new nuclear power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) - a nuclear power unit of the Russian-made POI with a capacity of 1200 MW or any other. Chief Executive Director of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) told journalists on July 3.

So far, an interdepartmental working group has only been formed to discuss issues related to the construction of a new nuclear power unit, he noted.

According to him, one of the companies that are part of the Russian Rosatom offers small mobile modular reactors that are installed on ships. Meanwhile, as the head of the nuclear power plant noted, Armenia needs a stationary reactor. At the same time, the American side is still "inexperienced" in this matter - it is at the stage of study and does not yet have small modular reactors in operation. And in this case, as Martirosyan pointed out, operating experience is crucial.  As Martirosyan stressed, Yerevan is considering the proposed options from the point of view of their security, economic feasibility and generated capacity.  <The most important thing is that we can "fit" in our power grid. Any nuclear power plant, from the point of view of ensuring safety, cannot occupy more than 30% of the energy system. Our nuclear power plant supplies 30-40% of electricity> - he explained.

Thus, the priority factors in choosing a future nuclear power unit, whether Russian, American, French or Korean, will be the capacity offered, safety, and only then - its cost. The new power unit should be built before 2036, before that the old ANPP power unit will operate.

It should be noted that earlier a project was announced for the construction of a Russian-made POI nuclear power unit with a capacity of 1200 MW. At the end of May this year, 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. Longhi did not provide other details of the project.

At the end of May, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the Republic of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan stated that by the end of this year the Armenian government will decide on the capacities of the project for the construction of a new nuclear power unit.