ArmInfo.Armenian authorities have made a strategic decision regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant, which will be a modular plant. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this on September 18 at the Global Armenian Summit in Yerevan.
At the same time, the prime minister noted that the technology of modular nuclear power plants has not yet reached the stage of application, but several countries are currently developing it.
It should be noted that the government has signed a with the Unite States regarding nuclear power. The US offers small modular plants with a capacity of up to 300 MW, but they have not yet been tested in practice. It is too early to discuss their efficiency. Meanwhile, as is well known, their first samples were built by the Russians and Chinese, not the Americans. Russia has already signed contracts for the construction of 6 modular stations in Uzbekistan and is currently building a similar unit in Yakutia.
Recall that the nuclear power plant in Armenia was initially scheduled for decommissioning in 2016, but its service life was extended until 2026. Then the authorities decided to further extend the service life of power unit N2 until 2036. In turn, the Russian Federation presented its proposal for a 1200 MW power unit, but as RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan previously noted, the constructing a unit of this capacity poses challenges, since the total capacity of Armenia's entire energy system is also 1200 MW. However, according to independent industry experts, the currently operating power unit N2 of the Armenian NPP provides up to 40% of all electricity generated in the country to the energy system. It also helps solve a number of economic and social problems, as the tariff from the plant is the lowest compared to other generation facilities, at about AMD 12 per 1 kWh of electricity. For comparison: the tariff from thermal power facilities is 46 drams, from HPP - 25 drams, etc. Experts believe it is not difficult to calculate the consequences the closure of nuclear power plant will have for the country's economy and the population in general,
If we keep in mind that small modular reactors (SMRs) are either in the design or licensing stage, experts believe their industrial production will take at least 20 years, and Yerevan can not afford to wait for such a long period of time. Specialists and experts note that in the midst of the rapid development of the fifth industrial revolution worldwide, which will eventually reach Armenia, the country will require a power station with high capacity - up to 1200 MW. Just switching the entire country's motor transport to electric cars will require capacities equal to the capacities of the currently operating power unit of the Armenian NPP. To this should be added the active development of the mining industry. Several metal processing enterprises are also under construction, and active capital construction is underway. Furthermore, experts warn against disregarding the plans to fully decommission the two thermal units of Yerevan and Hrazdan TPPs, which will result in a significant loss of capacity.
