The demands of Baku and Ankara to close the Armenian NPP have a long history. Artak Zakaryan notes that while previously Azerbaijanis tearfully proposed to close the NPP on international platforms, now they present this demand confidently and authoritatively.
According to him, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is so confident in the resolution of the issue regarding the closure of the NPP in Armenia that he even offers Yerevan solutions to the electricity shortage problem, placing Yerevan in a one-sided dependence on Baku.
Back in 2024, the Azerbaijani Minister of Energy announced plans to build a nuclear power plant in Absheron, on the Caspian Sea coast. Aliyev has not ruled this out either.
Meanwhile, Armenia seeks to push Russia out of all spheres of influence in the South Caucasus.
It is clear that the issue of closing the NPP does not align with the country's energy strategy, which envisions extending the operation of the existing power block until 2036.
Zakaryan reminded that in April 2016, the Russian government stated that "Rosatom" was ready to ensure the extension of the operation of the Armenian NPP until 2036, provided that the Russian nuclear corporation receives 70% of the work.
Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that there are opportunities to extend the operation of the second power block of the NPP for another 10 years after 2036.
