Armenia to operate NPP until 2036, says Pashinyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - At the World Atomic Week forum in Moscow, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia has decided to extend the operational life of its nuclear power plant until 2036. The goal, he said, is to ensure a smooth transition to a new nuclear energy unit.

“The Government of Armenia has affirmed its policy to preserve the nuclear power plant as a crucial part of the country’s energy balance. Currently, nearly 30% of Armenia’s electricity is generated by the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant,” Pashinyan noted.

He described the modernization and extension of the plant's operation not just as a technical issue but as a result of effective and trusted cooperation between Armenia, Russia’s Rosatom State Corporation, and other international partners. This extension, he added, would serve as a solid foundation for the future transition to a new reactor.

Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia plans to continue close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and partner countries to identify the optimal solution for replacing the current energy unit.

“The strategic significance of nuclear energy places a serious responsibility on us before current and future generations. We are making every effort to maintain the highest safety standards during the operation of our plant. We regularly host inspection and expert assessment missions, whose reports show Armenia is operating its NPP in full compliance with IAEA safety standards. The absence of nuclear or radiation incidents is evidence of this,” he said.

He added that these safety principles were applied during the extensive modernization efforts in recent years, which initially extended the plant’s life to 2026.

Pashinyan is in Moscow attending the World Atomic Week forum. He also held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. During the talks, he reiterated the importance of nuclear energy for Armenia, highlighted ongoing cooperation with Russia to extend the plant’s life to 2036, and noted Armenia’s interest in small modular nuclear reactor projects.