Armenia Plans to Strengthen Cooperation with IAEA to Replace NPP's Power Unit – PM Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that extending the service life of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) until 2036 will lay the foundation for a smooth transition to a new power unit, and that Yerevan will cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and partner countries on this matter.

"Armenia has decided to extend its NPP's service life again, from 2026 to 2036. The Armenian NPP modernization and prolongation project is not merely a technical task, but a result of the productive and trustful cooperation between Armenia and the Rosatom state corporation, and other international partners," Pashinyan said at the World Atomic Week forum in Moscow on Thursday, The Caspian Post reports citing Interfax.

"This prolongation will lay down sound basis for a smooth transition to the new power unit upon the expiration of the NPP's extended service life, which is our ultimate goal," Pashinyan said.

"In this context Armenia intends to continue to develop its close cooperation with the IAEA and other partner countries to determine the best possible solution for replacing the existing power unit, taking account of economic efficiency, safety and the specifics and the nature of the national power grid. New energy facilities that are being commissioned will become an important factor of regional development," Pashinyan said.