Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan established an interdepartmental task force responsible for developing detailed plans for constructing a new nuclear power plant in Armenia.

The ad hoc body will examine the feasibility of using small modular reactors (SMRs) designed by US companies as a potential replacement for the old Metsamor nuclear plant in Armenia.

The sole functioning reactor at Metsamor, which currently generates around 40 percent of Armenia’s electricity, was put into operation in 1980 and is scheduled for decommissioning in 2036. In April 2023, the Armenian government announced its plans to construct a new nuclear plant before the decommissioning deadline.

The chief executive of Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom, which has supported modernizing Metsamor’s 420-megawatt reactor, visited Yerevan twice in the following weeks to discuss the project with Pashinyan.

As earlier reported by the Caucasus Watch, the US expressed interest in the project. This is evidenced by the signing a memorandum of understanding on “strategic nuclear cooperation” between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in May 2023. Additionally, a senior State Department official recently stated that the United States is assessing the feasibility of constructing an SMR plant in Armenia. Adopting US technology in Armenia’s energy infrastructure could potentially reduce its dependence on Russia for energy resources.

Following the developments, the Armenian PM stated that a government delegation would soon travel to the US to examine SMRs closely. The task force, led by Deputy Minister Hakob Vartanyan, will thoroughly analyze different options for constructing the new nuclear facility, including SMRs). A 13-member group The group, including deputy ministers of economy, environment, and interior, along with other high-ranking government officials, was given two months to complete its assessment. The findings and recommendations of the working group will be submitted to the PM staff for further consideration.

Meanwhile, on June 8, Armenian PM Pashinyan and Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin visited the “Eurasia - Our Home” exhibition in Sochi, Russia. The exhibition took place alongside the CIS Council of Heads of Government meetings and the Eurasian Economic Union’s Intergovernmental Council. During their visit, they were informed about the Russian Rosatom state atomic corporation's nuclear power plant project, a joint project with Belarus, according to the TASS news agency.

“This is a world bestseller, with two power units of 1,200 megawatts each,” Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said. He mentioned that the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has already been commissioned and is operational, while the second unit is currently undergoing testing.

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