The current operating power unit of the Metsamor nuclear power plant is scheduled to remain in service until 2036. At the same time, authorities are discussing whether its operation could be extended by another 10 years, through 2046.
Against this backdrop, Armenia faces a decision over who should be entrusted with building a new nuclear power plant. The issue is not only about renewing energy infrastructure, but also about the country’s long-term energy security and strategic direction.
This edition of “Topic No. 1” focuses on three main questions: what lies ahead for the Metsamor plant, what kind of new nuclear facility Armenia wants to build, and why the debate around the project has also turned into a matter of geopolitical choice.
The report underscores that the new nuclear plant has become a central issue on Armenia’s agenda, given the limited remaining lifespan of the existing unit and the country’s energy needs for the coming decades.
