ArmInfo. In the coming months, Armenia will decide on the technical design of its new nuclear power plant and the partners who will build it. This was announced by Alexey Likhachev, head of the Rosatom state corporation, in a conversation with journalists in Yerevan on September 29.
Regarding today's talks in Yerevan, the head of Rosatom reported that he and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had held very in-depth, comprehensive and broad-based discussions.
He recalled that this trip and conversation are the result of agreements between the Armenian Prime Minister and the Russian leadership.
"The most important thing, perhaps, for me following the talks is that nuclear energy will be developed in Armenia, and today the Prime Minister stated that Armenia's nuclear energy will develop in the coming years. That's the second point. "We demonstrated the practical results of our extensive joint work with Armenian specialists on extending the station's life," he said.
Likhachev, recalling the work completed from 2016 to 2026 to extend the station's life, noted that the state corporation has smoothly transitioned to the second stage of the extension, until 2036, which can be roughly divided into two phases: until 2031 and from 2031 to 2036.
"Most of the work related to 2031 has been completed, and yesterday, as part of the working group, we recorded 100% fulfillment of the production target. Further work will continue in the interests of 2036, and neither I nor our specialists have any doubt that the station's life will be extended until 2036." Of course, the final say rests with the operating organization, the plant itself, the regulator, and the Department of Nuclear Supervision. But based on our experience extending the life of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant, where four similar VVER-440 power units are operating, the 2036 horizon doesn't raise any doubts or concerns for us. We just need to roll up our sleeves and finish this job," said the head of Rosatom.
Likhachev further noted that Rosatom is aware that the Armenian leadership and Armenian nuclear scientists are studying the issue of extending the plant's life from 2036 to 2046. According to him, there are two points here: first, theoretically, such a possibility exists, and Rosatom is ready to organize this work if such a decision is made.
"But, in addition to technical feasibility, we need to talk about economic feasibility. What are the subtleties?" "The problem is that significant investments will be required—we estimate them at hundreds of millions of dollars—related to modernizing safety systems, automation systems, re-annealing the reactor vessel to ensure full performance, and expanding and repairing spent nuclear fuel storage facilities. Both the pools and the associated facilities are designed for a shorter lifespan, so significant capital expenditures will be required, which, in turn, will increase electricity costs between 2036 and 2046. "And even a doubling of electricity costs is possible if the entire work extension is extended to 2046," he said.
According to him, this raises the issue of an alternative: limit the plant's operations to 2036, but make a decision as soon as possible about moving on to construction of a new unit. "And here, probably for the first time, Nikol Vovaevich's words, very important for us, were heard: that within the next few months Armenia will make a decision on the technical design and partners who will build the new plant. The good news, I emphasize again, is that nuclear energy will exist in Armenia for many decades," he said.
It should be noted that the program for extending the life of the second power unit of the Armenian NPP is designed for the plant's operation until 2036, with the prospect 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 the equipment and justifying the safety of Unit 2 until 2026. In December 2023, Armenian Nuclear Power Plant CJSC and Rosatom Service JSC signed a formal agreement 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.
