ArmInfo. As part of the second stage of the Armenian NPP modernization (scheduled until 2026), Rosatom Service delivered 1,500 tons of new equipment to the station, as noted in a statement by the Russian Embassy in Armenia.
It is stated that the projects aimed at modernizing and extending the service life of power unit No. 2 of the Armenian NPP, as well as the ongoing service maintenance of the station, are key components of the cooperation between Russia and Armenia in the energy sector.
As part of the modernization and extension of the service life of the Armenian NPP until 2026, JSC <Rosatom Service> has completed a signnificant amount of work with the involvement of specialized Russian organizations and institutes: This includes the delivery of 1,500 tons of new main equipment to the turbine hall; modernization of safety systems and automated control systems, and a unique operation to anneal the reactor.
As a result of these efforts, the capacity of the power unit has been increased from 380-390 MW to 440 MW, and the service life of the station has been extended.
"In 2023, Rosatom Service (a subsidiary of the state corporation "Rosatom") and CJSC "Armenian NPP" signed an agreement to extend the service life of the Armenian NPP until 2036. Activities on the repeated extension of the service life of the station is currently underway.
It was built between 1969 and 1977 on the territory of the Armenian SSR near the town of Metsamor. The first power unit of the power plant was put into operation in December 1976, and the second one in January 1980. The station produces more than a third of all electricity generated in Armenia," the report says.
Note that a new nuclear power unit must be built in the republic by 2036. The issue at hand is the decision on its capacity. On August 1 of last year, the Cabinet of Ministers made a decision to establish "Construction of a new nuclear power unit" CJSC, which should select the manufacturer of the new nuclear power plant, oversee the construction process and manage its operation. The company is funded by the state budget of the country. The initial results of the studies are expected to be presented by the end of 2025.
