ArmInfo. On September 29, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation, and his delegation.
According to the government's press service, during the meeting, issues related to the extension of the second power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)'s lifespan were discussed, as well as the Russian side's proposals for the construction of a new nuclear power unit in our country.
The Prime Minister noted that the Armenian government continues to discuss proposals received from international partners for the construction of a new nuclear power unit, and a decision will be made in the near future. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the final decision will be purely economic in nature, taking into account price, quality, safety, deadlines, and guarantees.
Alexey Likhachev noted that The State Corporation has established constructive cooperation with Armenian partners, including in the area of extending the service life of the current NPP unit. The Director General of Rosatom presented details of proposals and possible mechanisms for the construction of a new nuclear power plant, as well as small and medium-capacity power units.
It should be noted that the program to extend the service life of Unit 2 of the Armenian NPP is designed for the plant's operation until 2036, with the possibility of further discussions on an extension until 2046. The first stage of the extension program (until 2026) was carried out with financial support from Russia ($270 million loan and $30 million grant). The main work was aimed at modernizing equipment and justifying the safety of Unit 2 until 2026. In December 2023, Armenian Nuclear Power Plant CJSC and Rosatom Service JSC A formal agreement was signed to extend the plant's service life for another 10 years. Approximately $165 million from funds saved during the first phase of the project has been allocated for this purpose.
Armenia's leadership and the NPP's management are considering operating the power unit until 2041-2046, subject to all assessments and approval by the IAEA.
Concurrently, negotiations are underway to build a new nuclear power plant.
