Armenian Nuclear Power Plant has a lifespan until 2036: MP Yeghoyan responds to Azerbaijani President’s remarks

ARKA

YEREVAN — The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant has a set lifespan, and neither the Armenian government, nor the Azerbaijani government, nor any other government in the world determines it, stated Arman Yeghoyan, an MP of the ruling Civil Contract party.

“There is a maximum permissible lifespan for a nuclear power plant, and that lifespan is 2036, no matter what anyone says,” Yeghoyan told reporters, commenting on the Azerbaijani President’s remarks that the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant “must be shut down sooner or later.”

The MP also recalled the Armenian government’s plans to build a new nuclear power plant and noted that the country is negotiating with a number of international partners to this end.

He emphasized that a provision regarding the nuclear power plant is also contained in the Armenia-EU agreement signed in 2017.

Speaking about energy imports to Armenia, as well as the import and export of electricity, Yeghoyan noted that the more open roads and opportunities there are, the more profitable it will be for the country. “But this has nothing to do with the nuclear power plant issue,” he emphasized.

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is the only nuclear power plant in the South Caucasus region. It is located near the town of Metsamor, approximately 30 km west of Yerevan. The plant is one of the country’s key sources of electricity, providing up to 40% of its total generation.

The service life of the existing second power unit of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant was previously extended until 2026. A program for a further 10-year extension, until 2036, is currently underway. The work is being carried out with the participation of Rusatom Service (a division of Russian Rosatom Corporation).

Armenian authorities plan to build a new nuclear power plant within 8-10 years. Various options and the experience of partners from the United States, France, China, Russia, and South Korea are currently being explored.

A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1,200 MW unit, developed by the Rosatom state corporation, is already under review by the Armenian side.

Earlier, Rosatom First Deputy Director General Kirill Komarov, responding to a question from the ARKA news agency, stated that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacities ranging from 50 to 1,000 MW.