Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the Head of Rosatom discussed cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy

On May 2, Yerevan held the meeting between the Director General of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexey Likhachev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

The main issues of complex cooperation between Russia and Armenia with the participation of Rosatom were discussed.

The task to extend the life of the operating power unit of the Armenian NPP was outlined as a priority. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the Director General of Rosatom have agreed on specific steps for the near future, which will allow to launch activities on the re-extension by the end of this year.

Special attention was paid to the issue of eliminating accumulated environmental damage at the Nairit industrial site. Rosatom has unique technologies for ensuring safety of complex industrial facilities and is ready to participate in neutralization of hazardous waste at the Nairit plant site.

Alexei Likhachev noted that Rosatom was implementing a similar project to eliminate accumulated environmental damage in Usolye-Sibirskoye town. The works are ahead of schedule, the waste of categories II, III and IV hazard classes has been removed from the area of Usoliekhimprom and sent for recycling.

The construction of new nuclear power units in Armenia was also touched upon during the meeting. Alexei Likhachev underlined that Rosatom was ready to offer Russian-design VVER NPPs, which are distinguished by increased safety and economic efficiency.

At the end of the meeting the parties agreed to continue working on joint projects in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy and related high-tech areas.

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In 2021, Rosatom completed work on life extension of the Armenian NPP, which resulted in a permit to operate the plant until 2026. In the course of the project, the emergency cooling system of the unit, turbines, steam generators were upgraded and a unique reactor vessel annealing operation was conducted. As a result of the upgrade the capacity of the plant increased by almost 10%.

Armenia and Rosatom are also conducting consultations about the construction of new power units. Armenia has been provided with a preliminary feasibility study of the project. It is assumed that the construction will be arranged at the site of the operating Armenian NPP in Metsamor.