ArmInfo. Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev has praised the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant as the best nuclear project of the Soviet Union, having survived a major earthquake, As reported by Interfax, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the heads of official delegations participating in the International Conference on Cooperation in Science and Technology toured the Atom Museum exhibit at VDNKh in Moscow on December 12. During the presentation, Likhachev discussed Rosatom's cooperation with other countries, highlighting the history of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) and its VVER-440 seismic-resistant reactors. It survived the Spitak earthquake in 1988 and was shut down. However, the second power unit was subsequently restored and restarted.
"It is simply our pride. It is the best nuclear project of the Soviet Union, and it remains operational," Likhachev said. He added that the current unit's operating life has been extended until 2026. The Armenian government has adopted a resolution to begin the process of extending the operation of the ANPP until 2036. "Almost every quarter, I call Nikol Vovayevich (Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia) and say, 'Nikol Vovayevich, when should I come? We're ready to settle everything,'" Likhachev added. He also said that Rosatom is "inviting" its partners to the fourth generation of nuclear energy, which involves the development of pressurized water technologies, fast-neutron reactors, and a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
"This is a completely different level of safety, waste-free production, and a reduction in uranium demand by hundreds of times. Thus, we will ensure a stable supply for millennia," Likhachev emphasized. It should be noted that the ANPP is actively working with Rosatom to extend the service life of its second power unit until 2036. A new nuclear power unit is planned to be constructed in the country by that time.
