Second 10-year extension of Armenia’s nuclear power plant to 2036

In a few days, Armenia will launch the second program to extend the operating life of its Metsamor nuclear power plant by an additional 10 years, until 2036, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan said on Wednesday.

The plant’s lifespan was previously extended by 10 years in 2016, until 2026.

“In just a few days, the second extension program will begin, which will extend the plant’s operating life by an additional 10 years. A budgetary loan of 63.2 billion AMD has been allocated from the state budget to the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant,” Khudatyan said at a parliamentary committee hearing on his ministry’s 2025 performance report under the 2021–2026 government action plan.

At the same time, he reaffirmed that the government continues discussions with various countries and companies regarding the construction of a new nuclear reactor. The Armenian government has decided to replace the current plant with a modular nuclear power plant.

“During this year, or at the beginning of 2027, we will choose the specific model, after which we will move to the next phase,” the minister noted.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier said that the government is evaluating offers from the United States, Russia, China, South Korea, and France for the construction of a modular nuclear power plant.