Likhachev: Rosatom has offered Armenia options for new nuclear power generation
02.04.2026,
18:03
Russia has repeatedly made proposals to Armenia to build new baseload power generation in the republic, including for large-capacity units, as well as medium- and small-scale units, Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev told reporters.
YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. Russia has repeatedly made proposals to Armenia to build new baseload power generation in the republic, including for large-capacity units, as well as medium- and small-scale units, Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev told reporters.
Likhachev announced that the service life of the Armenian nuclear power plant will be extended until 2036 after modernization, which will be carried out, among other things, by Rosatom. However, he expressed the opinion that this is "a certain limit," after which it is unlikely that the Armenian plant will be operational for a number of reasons, TASS reports.
"Of course, it's easy to calculate that only 10 years remain to not only adopt but implement decisions on the construction of new baseload generation in Armenia. We have repeatedly made relevant proposals to the Armenian government, both for large-, medium-, and small-capacity units. Each of these solutions has its advantages and challenges, but the final say always rests with the customers," Likhachev stated.
According to him, it is the Armenian government that must determine the configuration and overall development prospects of the country's energy system.
"In my understanding, Armenia cannot exist without nuclear energy. But it's not even that it's necessary, but that the country has possessed this competence for many years," the head of Rosatom clarified, adding that Armenia has been a pioneer in peaceful nuclear technologies since the late 1970s, an advantage that should not be squandered.
"Perhaps today we will discuss the specific requests the Armenian government has for addressing this issue. I don't just think, I'm absolutely certain, that Russia will make the most favorable proposals, because we have decades of very constructive collaboration, and we share fraternal, and in many families, familial, ties," he continued. "Therefore, of course, Armenia's energy independence, a) is unthinkable without nuclear energy, and b) in my opinion, it is precisely Russian solutions that should be in demand in the near future."
Likhachev announced that the service life of the Armenian nuclear power plant will be extended until 2036 after modernization, which will be carried out, among other things, by Rosatom. However, he expressed the opinion that this is "a certain limit," after which it is unlikely that the Armenian plant will be operational for a number of reasons, TASS reports.
"Of course, it's easy to calculate that only 10 years remain to not only adopt but implement decisions on the construction of new baseload generation in Armenia. We have repeatedly made relevant proposals to the Armenian government, both for large-, medium-, and small-capacity units. Each of these solutions has its advantages and challenges, but the final say always rests with the customers," Likhachev stated.
According to him, it is the Armenian government that must determine the configuration and overall development prospects of the country's energy system.
"In my understanding, Armenia cannot exist without nuclear energy. But it's not even that it's necessary, but that the country has possessed this competence for many years," the head of Rosatom clarified, adding that Armenia has been a pioneer in peaceful nuclear technologies since the late 1970s, an advantage that should not be squandered.
"Perhaps today we will discuss the specific requests the Armenian government has for addressing this issue. I don't just think, I'm absolutely certain, that Russia will make the most favorable proposals, because we have decades of very constructive collaboration, and we share fraternal, and in many families, familial, ties," he continued. "Therefore, of course, Armenia's energy independence, a) is unthinkable without nuclear energy, and b) in my opinion, it is precisely Russian solutions that should be in demand in the near future."
