No decision on new nuclear fuel made yet - official 

ArmInfo.The issue of the construction of a new nuclear power unit in Armenia, its combination with the country's energy system, and other technical parameters is under discussion, reads a response of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the Republic of Armenia signed by Deputy Minister Hakob Vardanyan in response to a request from ArmInfo.

The request contained a request to answer a question related to  previous statements by the head of the department, Gnel Sanosyan,  about the need to make a decision on the capacity of the new nuclear  power unit by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the year is ending,  and there is no decision yet.

The Deputy Minister's response emphasizes that based on the results  of the discussions, an appropriate decision will be made, including  on the capacity of the new nuclear power unit, after which the  corresponding construction program will be approved. "At the same  time, we inform you that no decision has been made on the technology  of the new nuclear power unit," the deputy minister noted in his  response.

When asked what type of reactor the department is leaning towards,  given that the United States has closed the program of small modular  power plants, Vardanyan noted that in this case we are talking about  only one company. Meanwhile, in the United States, several companies  are developing and using small modular nuclear power plants. "The  information about the closure of the program apparently concerned  individual companies," the deputy minister emphasized.

Speaking about the possibility of abandoning the idea of building a  new nuclear power plant after the expiration of the N2 power unit of  the Armenian NPP, relying on alternative and renewable energy  sources, the deputy head of the Ministry of Territorial  Administration and Infrastructures noted that the country's nuclear  energy is an important component of the state's energy security.

According to the Energy Development Strategy of Armenia until 2040,  it is planned to build a new unit for the country by the time the  operating life of the existing power unit expires. "The development  of nuclear and renewable energy will make it possible to create in  the country an energy sector that is as neutral as possible with  respect to hydrocarbon raw materials," the response notes.

In 2024, the implementation of a program to extend the life of the N2  power unit until 2036 will begin at the Armenian NPP.

20.2 billion drams will be allocated for these purposes. In parallel,  a new nuclear power unit must be built in the country by the  specified date. The question is the power of this unit, which must be  combined with the country's energy system. Previously, the United  States offered Yerevan its option for the construction of small  modular reactors, which was announced by Maria Longi, Coordinator of  U.S. Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia.

In turn, the Russian Federation proposed its project for a power unit  with a capacity of 1200 MW, but, as the Minister of Territorial  Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia Gnel  Sanosyan previously pointed out, the construction of a unit of such  capacity is fraught with problems, since the capacity of the entire  energy system of Armenia is still the same 1200 MW. "By the end of  2023, we must make a difficult decision on the type of reactor," the  minister emphasized.