Armenian government approved the report on the repeated extension of the second unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP)
23.07.2026,
14:25
On Thursday, the Armenian government approved the report on the implementation of the program for the repeated extension of the second unit's lifespan at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP).
YEREVAN, July 23. /ARKA/. On Thursday, the Armenian government approved the report on the implementation of the program for the repeated extension of the second unit's lifespan at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP).
According to the rationale for the decision, the program is aimed at improving safety and ensuring the unit's operation until 2036. It was previously reported that the total funding allocated is $160 million.
Work began in 2020, and in 2023, the program was approved by the Armenian government and the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee. In December of that year, a framework agreement worth $57.5 million was signed with Rusatom Service.
The program includes 103 activities. Of these, 23 are under the responsibility of Rusatom Service: contracts have been signed for 18 of these, and technical specifications are being prepared for another five.
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant CJSC is responsible for 37 major projects. Forty-five procurement procedures were conducted to implement them, resulting in the award of 36 contracts, one of which is currently being signed, and tenders have been announced for two. The implementation of four projects has been postponed until the completion of related work.
The document notes that the primary focus is on assessing and improving the safety of the power unit, upgrading emergency and fire protection systems, inspecting equipment, addressing identified nonconformities, and conducting a probabilistic safety analysis.
Some of the reports have already been submitted to the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee for review.
In September 2023, the government approved a program for the repeated extension of the operating life and modernization of the power unit until 2036. On July 9, 2026, the Armenian government approved the provision of a budget loan of 20.1 billion drams to the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant for this purpose.
Previously, in 2020–2025, the plant received a budget loan of 63.2 billion drams for the implementation of the first program to extend the service life and modernize the second power unit until 2026.
About the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is the only nuclear power plant in the South Caucasus region. It is located near the town of Metsamor, approximately 30 km west of Yerevan. The plant is one of the country's key sources of electricity, providing up to 40% of its total generation.
Armenian authorities plan to build a new nuclear power plant within 8–10 years. Various options and the experience of partners from the United States, France, China, Russia, and South Korea are currently being studied.
A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1200 MW unit, developed by the Rosatom State Corporation, is already under review by the Armenian side.
Earlier, Rosatom First Deputy Director General Kirill Komarov, responding to a question from the ARKA news agency, stated that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacities ranging from 50 to 1000 MW. He added that it is possible, in particular, to assemble a reactor of any capacity from 50 MW units.
According to the rationale for the decision, the program is aimed at improving safety and ensuring the unit's operation until 2036. It was previously reported that the total funding allocated is $160 million.
Work began in 2020, and in 2023, the program was approved by the Armenian government and the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee. In December of that year, a framework agreement worth $57.5 million was signed with Rusatom Service.
The program includes 103 activities. Of these, 23 are under the responsibility of Rusatom Service: contracts have been signed for 18 of these, and technical specifications are being prepared for another five.
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant CJSC is responsible for 37 major projects. Forty-five procurement procedures were conducted to implement them, resulting in the award of 36 contracts, one of which is currently being signed, and tenders have been announced for two. The implementation of four projects has been postponed until the completion of related work.
The document notes that the primary focus is on assessing and improving the safety of the power unit, upgrading emergency and fire protection systems, inspecting equipment, addressing identified nonconformities, and conducting a probabilistic safety analysis.
Some of the reports have already been submitted to the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee for review.
In September 2023, the government approved a program for the repeated extension of the operating life and modernization of the power unit until 2036. On July 9, 2026, the Armenian government approved the provision of a budget loan of 20.1 billion drams to the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant for this purpose.
Previously, in 2020–2025, the plant received a budget loan of 63.2 billion drams for the implementation of the first program to extend the service life and modernize the second power unit until 2026.
About the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is the only nuclear power plant in the South Caucasus region. It is located near the town of Metsamor, approximately 30 km west of Yerevan. The plant is one of the country's key sources of electricity, providing up to 40% of its total generation.
Armenian authorities plan to build a new nuclear power plant within 8–10 years. Various options and the experience of partners from the United States, France, China, Russia, and South Korea are currently being studied.
A preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1200 MW unit, developed by the Rosatom State Corporation, is already under review by the Armenian side.
Earlier, Rosatom First Deputy Director General Kirill Komarov, responding to a question from the ARKA news agency, stated that the corporation could offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacities ranging from 50 to 1000 MW. He added that it is possible, in particular, to assemble a reactor of any capacity from 50 MW units.
