Armenia intends to expand its existing nuclear infrastructure and is interested in nuclear capacity additions. Russian and Armenian nuclear engineers have a long record of cooperation, and Rosatom is ready to help Yerevan in its initiatives.
Earlier this year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the country’s intention to develop nuclear energy and called the option of deploying small modular reactors interesting. In August 2024, the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers decided to establish a standalone state-run company that would deal with the construction of a new power unit at the Armenian NPP. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan noted that the company would analyze feasibility studies of the construction project, hire personnel, negotiate with international partners, and operate the new plant.
The Armenian NPP is so far the only one in the country. Located near the town of Metsamor, 30 kilometers from Yerevan, the plant operates a single unit and is one of the main electricity sources for Armenia, accounting for up to 40 % of the national power output. The design service life of the operating second unit expired in 2016. Following a sweeping upgrade and retrofitting program with input from Rosatom, the service life of the power unit was extended by 10 years. In the autumn of 2023, the Armenian government approved a new program to extend its life until 2036. The life extension contract was signed with Rosatom Service (part of Rosatom) in December 2023.
The work at the plant began in 2024 as Rosatom installed surveillance specimens into the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 2 in July. These are test pieces made of steel identical to that of the reactor. The specimens will be removed in 2025 and analyzed in the laboratory for any changes in their properties. The specimens will be lab-tested annually, according to Rosatom Service CEO Evgeny Salkov. “We scrupulously follow safety priorities: starting from 2025, our engineers will annually extract specimens from the reactor of the Armenian NPP and monitor their properties and changes in their structure. This is how we ensure reliable control and detailed monitoring over one of the most important installations of a nuclear power plant,” he said. The data obtained from the specimens will be used to make a decision on the extension of the reactor’s service life.
In autumn, Rosatom experts proceeded with an inspection of the on-site radioactive waste storage facility as part of the extension program. The facility has accumulated solid radioactive waste generated by the operating plant since its commissioning in 1980.
Cooperation with Russia
In the expiring year, Russian and Armenian nuclear engineers have, as always, worked in close contact across many areas.
In October, Rosatom held a seminar in Yerevan to present its technological capabilities for the construction of new nuclear capacity in Armenia. Rosatom experts spoke about the social and economic effects of building Russian-designed power reactors and how capacity additions could be integrated into the national grid.
“The capacity Armenia needs can be achieved with either small modular reactors RITM 200N or medium power reactors VVER 600 based on the design of Russia’s Kola II NPP. Having analyzed the Armenian energy system, I can say that the existing power grid needs no huge infrastructure investments to integrate even a large power unit with a VVER 1200 reactor. Each of the solutions has its advantages and disadvantages, and Rosatom, together with Armenian experts, is ready to select the one that would best suit Armenia’s interests,” said Mikhail Turundayev, Director of Rosatom International Network office in Armenia.
Rosatom presented two development scenarios (with and without a new nuclear station) for the Armenian energy system until 2037. If the new reactor is put in operation, Armenia will be able to export up to 1,250 MW of electric power annually. But if the government drops the idea of building a new power plant, the country will be forced to import electricity.
The participants of the seminar also discussed the involvement of local suppliers in the nuclear construction project. According to Rosatom representatives, local companies will have an opportunity to participate in every project phase, from site surveys, engineering, construction and installation to procurement of equipment, supply of materials, logistics, and commissioning.
In autumn, Rosatom organized a mathematical modeling contest, REPEAT HackAtom, in Yerevan. Seven teams from the Armenian technical universities took part in the contest to demonstrate their mathematical modeling skills in providing digital solutions for the industry, one of Rosatom’s leading edges. The tasks required using REPEAT, Rosatom’s flagship digital product for 1D modeling. In particular, the contestants had to simulate the operation modes of the national energy system. The winning team was REACTIVE MINDS from the National Polytechnic University of Armenia.
Russian and Armenian nuclear engineers also conduct joint research programs. This autumn, Armenia hosted the Mathematical Modeling and Computational Physics 2024 conference organized by Russia’s Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) and Armenia’s Alikhanian National Scientific Laboratory, Yerevan State University and the Informatics and Automation Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. The conference was attended by over 150 scientists from 18 countries.
In November, the National Academy of Sciences and JINR organized the 50 Years of Cold Fusion international conference. JINR Director and member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Grigory Trubnikov emphasized that the 50th anniversary of the first experiments on cold fusion was symbolic for every nuclear fusion laboratory all over the world. The conference sections were dedicated to cold fusion of superheavy elements, heavy ion reactions, as well as physical and chemical properties of superheavy elements. Scientists discussed fusion mechanics, the current state of superheavy element fusion facilities in the world’s leading research centers, and prospects for experimental and theoretical research.
