Armenia’s nuclear power plant can continue operating regardless of the situation with gas supplies, according to former Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan. He made the comments in the “Daser” program of 168.am.
Gabrielyan said Russia’s approach to nuclear energy differs from its logic in the gas sector. In his view, Moscow sees nuclear cooperation less as a foreign policy tool and more as a way to expand commercial opportunities.
He added that if Armenia chooses to build a larger nuclear plant instead of the small modular reactors discussed earlier, one possible option could be a VVER-1000 reactor. In that case, he said, the format of cooperation with Russia could differ from the model tied to small modular reactors.
At the same time, Gabrielyan did not say that a decision has already been made to build a new plant with a VVER-1000 reactor. He referred to it only as one possible scenario for the development of Armenia’s nuclear energy sector.
The Armenian NPP, located near Metsamor about 30 km west of Yerevan, is the only nuclear power station in the South Caucasus. It provides up to 40% of the country’s total electricity generation. Its operating life has been extended until 2026, and work is under way to secure another 10-year extension.
A new nuclear plant is planned within the next 8-10 years. Armenia is currently comparing different options and studying the experience of partners from five countries — Russia, the United States, France, and South Korea. Earlier, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev told ARKA that the Russian state corporation had sent Armenia a concrete proposal to build a new VVER-type power unit with a capacity of 1000 MW.
