David Khudatyan, Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure told Civic TV that a NPP with small modular reactors (SMRs) will provide flexibility in electricity production at power generation facilities. He noted that the issue of determining the NPP model and the choice of the manufacturing country is on the government’s agenda and will be resolved in due time. A final decision could be made in 2027.
“Armenia won’t be left without nuclear energy, but we must keep in mind that small modular power plants are, in reality, a new direction in the energy sector, and very few countries are currently in the final stages of their construction,” he said. “We want to wait a little longer to see the efficiency of SMR plants on the ground, so to speak, and make a choice.” He pointed to the possibility of building as many SMRs as the country’s energy sector requires.
In October 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia had decided to build a SMR and was discussing a project to build a new reactor with the US, Russia, China, South Korea and France.
The currently operating Armenian NPP (ANPP) at Metsamor was built in the 1970s with two Soviet-supplied VVER-440-V230 units but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. However, unit 2 was recommissioned with Russian help in 1995 following severe energy shortages. In March 2014, the Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life to 2026. Most of the overhaul (until 2019) was funded by an interstate loan from Russia.
The unit was reconnected to the grid in July following extensive upgrades carried out by Rosatom to extend the service life of the unit, which currently ends in 2026. In December 2024, following a meeting of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission it was decided to extend the life of the plant until 2036. The Armenian government allocated $65m for the implementation of the programme, which is being undertaken by Russian company Rusatom Service.
Construction of a new nuclear plant has long been part of Armenia’s overall plan, although finance has proved to be an obstacle. In 2024, Pashinyan said it was planning to build a new NPP within 8-10 years, and a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new 1200 MWe unit was under consideration.
