ArmInfo. Constructing small modular power plants in Armenia as a replacement for the current Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) is impractical in terms of ensuring national security. This opinion was expressed by Artur Avetisyan, the Director of the research and analytical center "Energy Initiative of Armenia" and a PhD associate professor, during the online discussion <"Atomic"Dilemma of Armenia: Building a New NPP - With and Without Russia>, organized on the expert platform of the Analytical Center for Strategic Studies and Initiatives (ACSII).
"The closure of the Metsamor NPP without building a new one would be a disaster for Armenia. Green energy does not offer dispatchability, meaning it lacks guaranteed capacity. Solar energy is not recommended for anyone. Moreover, Armenia remains in conflict with its neighbors, and solar power plants are an easy target for the enemy. Therefore, from national security standpoint, such stations are not advisable for Armenia," the expert is sure. Harutyunyan noted that energy experts initially faced a dilemma regarding the type of new NPP to be built in Armenia - whether it would be Russian or from another country. However, according to him, a new question has arisen in this dilemma today - whether the NPP will be built at all, following the statements of the Armenian Prime Minister indicating a preference for small-capacity modular power plants of American design. The expert was skeptical about this choice, stating his belief that only large Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPPs) or NPPs can ensure Armenia's energy security. In this regard, he recalled that the Metsamor NPP currently supplies 30-40% of the country's total power generation, a significant portion of which is exported.
At the same time, he pointed out that to date, only two modular power plants have been built in the world, and both were in China and Russia, with the Russian Federation having a floating plane. "There are no other experiences of using such stations. I believe that opting for small modules poses serious risks for Armenia," he noted.
Regarding the proposals from the Russian side to construct a 1200 MW nuclear power plant, Harutyunyan admitted that this would be a sizable station, and Armenia would not have sufficient space for such a large amount of generation. However, according to him, the surplus could be used to support the project aimed at connecting the power grids of Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Iran. Touching upon the potential costs and longevity of constructing a nuclear power plant versus a small- capacity modular power plant in Armenia, Harutyunyan noted that the cost of building a nuclear power plant typically ranges from 7 billion dollars. "The construction of a nuclear power plant requires at least 10 years, and it is common for delays to occur. As for modular power plants, they can be assembled in a specific country within 2-3 years. But, the key consideration is not just the cost and construction period, but rather what is most beneficial for the country in question. Modular stations present many risks for Armenia in terms of national security. Here it is important to understand what Armenia truly needs, and in this case it is nuclear generation, not modular generation," Harutyunyan concluded.
Let us recall that earlier in Armenia there was a discussion about the possibility of constructing several small modular nuclear reactors with a capacity of 50-60 MW. Moreover, the possibility of constructing them in several regions of the country was even considered. However, one of the main challenges in this area is the lack of skills among Armenian nuclear scientists in managing these reactors. Earlier, the former adviser to the general director of the Armenian NPP, Gera Sevikyan, told ArmInfo that a fundamental decision had been made to construct a new unit in the country using the Russian TOI reactor with a capacity of 1200 MW. But, as the former Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, Gnel Sanosyan, later noted, constructing a unit of such capacity is fraught with problems, since the capacity of the entire energy system of Armenia remains at 1200 MW.
Let us recall that the Armenian NPP consists of two units with Soviet (Russian) VVER reactors, with the first unit put into operation in 1976, and the second in 1980. Following the Spitak earthquake in March 1989, which killed 25 thousand people, the station ceased operations.. In November 1995, amidst a severe energy crisis, the second power unit of the station with a capacity of 407.5 MW was reactivated. In March 2014, the Armenian government decided to prolong the service life of the second power unit by 10 years, extending it until 2026.
