Talks with US on new nuclear plant in substantive phase

· July 4, 2024

YEREVAN (ARKA) — Armenia and the United States are in talks to construct a new nuclear plant in the South Caucasian country, Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said on Wednesday.

“We have entered a very substantive phase with regard to the construction of a new nuclear power plant [in Armenia]. That is, we are discussing with the US the matter of regulating the legal contract field [in that regard]; we cannot move forward without that field. At this moment, I can say that the ball is in the US’ court, we expect our system procedures in the US to pass, and then we will start working on diversification,” Grigoryan stated.

The nuclear power plant in Armenia’s Metsamor is the only nuclear facility in the South Caucasus and provides for around 40% of the country’s power supply. Unveiled in 1976, the plant was shut down following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake and restarted in 1995.

An agreement with Russia’s Rosatom nuclear operator allowed Armenia to extend the plant’s service life until 2026. Armenia is looking forward to constructing a new nuclear plant within the next 8-10 years, discussing possible partnership options with Russia, the US, and South Korea.