YEREVAN, July 6. /ARKA/. Armenia may need a large or medium-sized nuclear power plant in the coming years to cover its energy deficit, according to Alexey Likhachev, the CEO of Rosatom:
“What is the main question in the coming days in working with our Armenian partners? This is the next step, the further development of atomic technology. We hold the following view: currently, 30% of electricity in Armenia is nuclear, but demand is growing, and it is very possible that the deficit of electrical capacity in Armenia may reach even 1 GW in the coming decades. We need to be prepared for this. And our answer is: a large or medium-sized station, one or two blocks, which will cover the energy deficits for decades to come,” said the head of Rosatom in an interview with “Vesti” at the Innoprom-2026 forum.
Likhachev added that Armenia's nuclear competence and the presence of a nuclear industry is a “sign of a quality economy, a sign of quality industry” for the country. Armenian authorities had previously stated that they had already decided on the type of future (new) nuclear power plant - modular, and the specific model will be chosen by the end of 2027.
About the Armenian NPP: The Armenian NPP is the only nuclear power plant in the South Caucasus region. It is located near the town of Metsamor, about 30 km west of Yerevan. The plant is one of the key sources of electricity in the country, providing up to 40% of total output. Its operational life was previously extended until 2026 and is being extended again until 2036.
The Armenian authorities plan to build a new nuclear power plant within 8-10 years. Various options and experiences from partners in the USA, France, China, Russia, and South Korea are currently being studied. The Armenian side is already considering a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new block with a capacity of 1200 MW developed by the state corporation Rosatom.
Earlier, Kirill Komarov, the first deputy general director of Rosatom, responding to a question from the ARKA agency, stated that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with a capacity ranging from 50 to 1000 MW.
