Armenia and the United States discussed the construction of a new nuclear power unit project

As the Armenian government evaluates international options to replace the aging Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, Armenia and the United States discussed the construction of a new nuclear power unit project.

Narek Apitonyan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, met in Yerevan with a U.S. delegation led by Shauna Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Security Assistance. The two sides reviewed existing bilateral energy cooperation projects and exchanged views on prospects for expanding cooperation. According to information released by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the talks focused on the proposal for a new nuclear power unit, but official statements did not clarify whether the United States had submitted a formal construction proposal.

During the talks, Apitonyan announced the appointment of Garik Nalbandyan as acting Chief Executive Officer of New Nuclear Power Unit Construction CJSC, an entity specifically responsible for advancing this nuclear power project. He expressed hope that this appointment would accelerate the preparation process for the new facility and promote project cooperation with U.S. companies.

The U.S.-Armenia talks come at a critical juncture as Armenia faces a key decision on long-term energy security. With the current operating life of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant having less than a decade remaining, the Armenian government is comprehensively evaluating various options for developing alternative nuclear energy facilities. Recent public statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicate that Armenia may currently favor building a large nuclear reactor rather than the Small Modular Reactors (SMR) previously under priority consideration.

Meanwhile, Russia has also expressed strong interest in the project. During a visit to Yerevan in late September, the head of Rosatom submitted a cooperation proposal for the construction of a VVER-1000 nuclear power unit, a water-cooled reactor with an installed generating capacity of approximately 1000 MW. After talks with Prime Minister Pashinyan, Russian officials stated publicly that Rosatom had received positive signals from the Armenian side regarding the proposal.

However, the Armenian government has not yet publicly stated which country's proposal it favors. Pashinyan emphasized that the final decision will be based primarily on comprehensive economic and technical considerations, including construction cost, project quality, nuclear safety, construction timeline, and related safeguards. The choice of the new nuclear project will be a major strategic decision for Armenia, shaping the country's energy infrastructure landscape, generating capacity, and long-term energy security for decades to come.