ArmInfo. The development of high technologies and the growing number of AI factories in Armenia are prompting the government to consider building a new powerful nuclear power plant. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this in an interview with Infocom.
He said that just a year ago, when speaking about the development of the country’s nuclear industry, he had favored the construction of small modular power plants; however, circumstances are introducing their own adjustments, and it is already clear today that the development of these industries will soon create an electricity deficit in the country. As an example, Pashinyan spoke about Amazon’s intention to invest in Armenia, noting that the main condition for entering the market is the availability of substantial spare capacity.
As Pashinyan noted, this does not mean abandoning the further development of green energy, and this task remains a priority for the Armenian government. The sector is developing very actively and is subject to no restrictions. Moreover, the goal has been set to begin developing industrial battery systems. Nevertheless, the country needs large generating capacities capable of ensuring stable electricity supplies.
According to the prime minister, a final decision on the construction of a new powerful nuclear power plant should be made in 2027, so that it can be built by the end of the operation of the existing Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. Pashinyan did not say which country would build it, as this issue is still under consideration.
It should be noted that the state corporation Rosatom has offered the Armenian side the construction of a new 1 GW nuclear power plant. On September 29, speaking with journalists in Yerevan, Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev stated that the Armenian government had been offered the construction of a 1,000 MW unit as part of the best VVER-1000 project.
The currently operating second power unit of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is undergoing a lifetime extension program designed to keep the plant operating until 2036, with the possibility of further extending its operation until 2046. The first stage of the extension program (through 2026) was carried out with financial support from Russia ($270 million in loans and a $30 million grant). The main work focused on upgrading the equipment and substantiating the safety of Unit No. 2 through 2026. In December 2023, CJSC "Armenian Nuclear Power Plant" and JSC "Rusatom Service" signed an official agreement to extend the plant’s operating life for another 10 years. Approximately $165 million in funds saved during the implementation of the first phase of the project has been allocated for this purpose. The plant’s management is considering the possibility of operating the power unit until 2041-2046, subject to the completion of all examinations and approval by the IAEA.
