Armenia to receive €12.9 million from European Commission for nuclear safety enhancement

Armenia will receive financial assistance of 12.9 million euros from the European Commission to enhance nuclear safety. The relevant project was approved by the Armenian government at a meeting on Thursday.

It is noted that within the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the EU, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee of Armenia will be responsible for harmonizing the infrastructure for regulating nuclear and radiation safety in line with EU directives.

To ensure the timely and full implementation of the measures outlined in CEPA, Armenia has developed a roadmap. The Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee of Armenia has already initiated the drafting of a new law, taking into account the relevant EU directives.

About the Armenian NPP

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, the only one in the South Caucasus region, is located near the city of Metsamor, approximately 30 km west of Yerevan. The plant is one of the main sources of electricity in the country, providing up to 40% of the total generation. Its service life has been extended until 2026, and efforts are underway to extend it further for an additional 10 years.

A new nuclear power plant is planned to be built within 8-10 years. Currently, various options are being compared, and the experience of partners from Russia, the USA, and South Korea is being studied. The Armenian side is already reviewing a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1200 MW unit, developed by the ‘’Rosatom’’ state corporation.

Earlier, Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General of ‘’Rosatom’’, in response 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. According to him, it is possible, in particular, to ‘’assemble’’ a reactor of any capacity using 50 MW units.