Model for new nuclear unit in Armenia under review

PanARMENIAN.Net - The design of Armenia’s future nuclear power unit will be finalized based on ongoing studies that account for the specifics of the national energy system, as well as power capacity and financing structure. This was announced by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan during a joint session of parliamentary standing committees, where he presented the annual report on the execution of the 2024 state budget.

The minister noted that research is being conducted on nuclear technologies already used in various countries, including modular reactors, according to Armenpress.

"To build a new nuclear power unit in Armenia, studies of existing global nuclear technologies, including modular reactors, are underway. For this purpose, last year the government established the closed joint-stock company 'Construction of a New Nuclear Unit,' which is currently in the staffing phase," the minister said.

Khudatyan also emphasized that in parallel, modernization efforts and the extension of the operational life of the second unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) until 2036 are in progress. He noted that this work aims to ensure energy security until the new unit is potentially operational.

Back in 2023, the United States announced it was considering the construction of small modular nuclear reactors in Armenia. However, some experts argue that modular reactors cannot serve as a full alternative to the ANPP.