Armenia has decided that its future nuclear power plant will be a modular reactor facility, but the government has not yet selected either a specific model or a supplier country, according to Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Davit Khudatyan.

Khudatyan said proposals have been received from Russia, the United States, France, as well as South Korea and China, but no final decision has been made, reports Factor.am .

“We have decided that the new nuclear power plant in Armenia should be a modular-type plant. We have not selected a model and therefore have not selected a producer country, because the choice of producer depends on the chosen model. We have proposals from the American side, which we are studying, proposals from the French side, from the Russian side, from the Korean side and from the Chinese side,” the minister said.

According to Khudatyan, Russia currently has a modular nuclear reactor design operating on a vessel, while other countries have also presented their own technologies. He stressed that the government is not rushing the decision because the existing Armenian Nuclear Power Plant can remain part of the national energy system for many years.

“We are not rushing to make a decision because the capabilities of Armenia’s nuclear power plant will allow it to remain in the energy system for a long time, giving us sufficient time to report and plan accordingly. At least until 2036, because we are currently implementing a life-extension program. After its completion, by late August or September, we expect to receive authorization to extend the plant’s operation until 2036.

But that does not mean the plant will be unable to remain in the energy system after that date. The government has no reason to hurry, especially considering that these modular reactors represent a relatively new type of nuclear facility. As with any new technology, prices tend to be higher initially and may decrease over time,” he said.

The minister also explained why the modular option was chosen. According to him, such reactors provide greater flexibility and can be integrated more efficiently into the country’s energy system.

“We are pursuing a policy of increasing the share of renewable energy in Armenia’s energy mix. This creates a need for more flexible tools, particularly because of the growing number and installed capacity of solar power plants. During certain seasons and daytime hours, we are already forced to reduce output from our main generating capacities,” he said.

Within the framework of the U.S. State Department’s program “Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology,” experts from Sargent & Lundy visited Armenia from May 19 to May 22 to provide ongoing technical consultations regarding small modular reactors. Four U.S. small modular reactor technologies have been identified as the most suitable candidates for deployment in Armenia, and the technical assistance has been aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency best practices.