ArmInfo. The issue of closing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) has effectively been discussed and resolved, with discussions now shifting to potential next steps, according to Tigran Abrahamyan, a former deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, in his social media post.
Abrahamyan noted that the President of Azerbaijan stated that Azerbaijani specialists had conducted an analysis of the territory of the Republic of Armenia as part of the TRIPP project and identified locations where transmission line supports could be installed. "Essentially, we learn from Aliyev that Azerbaijani specialists are working freely in our country, addressing issues that are important to them. Moreover, Aliyev spoke about the energy crisis expected in the Republic of Armenia after the closure of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, hinting at his readiness to take additional measures in this direction," the former MP emphasized, adding that, in fact, the issue of closing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant has already been discussed and decided, and now the discussion is about possible actions.
It should be noted that, as of April 1, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant has been shut down for a five- month scheduled maintenance. As part of the shutdown, measures will be taken to extend the plant's service life until 2036. The NPP will be out of operation for a total of 153 days, significantly exceeding the 45 days required for scheduled maintenance.
Recall, the Armenian government allocated 63.2 billion drams from the state budget for the second extension program. A new nuclear power unit is scheduled to be built in the country by 2036. The country's authorities are leaning toward the need to build a plant with a small modular reactor. Proposals from five countries are currently being reviewed, including Russia, the United States, China, South Korea, and France. However, based on the statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who stated that Armenia's existing nuclear power plant has the potential to operate until 2046, it can be concluded that the issue of a new nuclear power plant for Armenia is being put on the back burner.
