The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant has been disconnected from the national energy system for three months to carry out work under a program aimed at extending its operational lifespan, Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Davit Khudatyan said in parliament.

According to the minister, more than half of the planned work has already been completed, reports Aysor.am .

“If the program is completed successfully, the operating lifetime of the nuclear power plant will be extended by another ten years,” Khudatyan said.

At the same time, preparations for the construction of a new nuclear power plant are continuing. The government has already made a strategic decision regarding the technological direction of the project.

“We are moving toward the construction of a modular nuclear power plant. At present, technical, safety and financial proposals from different countries are being studied,” 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 on small modular reactor technologies. Four U.S. small modular reactor technologies have been identified as the most suitable options for possible deployment in Armenia, and the technical support has been aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency best practices.