The Russian side has offered Armenia various options for replacing the capacity after the closure of the Armenian nuclear power plant, as well as various systems for participation in the business and operation of the future nuclear plant, but no response has been received so far. Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russian state corporation Rosatom, told this to Izvestia newspaper of Russia.

“We have put various solutions on the table for our Armenian partners. These are both medium-power units and gigawatt-level units. We are ready to buy and export part of the electricity to neighboring countries in case of surpluses, to actively participate in the business, in the operation of the nuclear power unit,” the head of Rosatom said.

He noted, however, that Russia has not yet received a response from the Armenian side on the further operation of the power unit at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.

“Here the ball is now completely in the court of the Armenian team, and I would not like this issue to be transferred to the sphere of political discussions and various personal sympathies and antipathies. Why? Look, Armenia is the only country in the Caucasus that proudly carries the banner of nuclear energy. And to lose this ability—that is, to lose nuclear energy altogether, in my opinion, would be absolutely uneconomical,” Likhachev said.

The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant of Armenia was built back in the Soviet period, 30 km from the capital, Yerevan. It consists of two power units. The second one was modernized by Rosatom Service, after which the Armenian supervisory authority issued a license for its operation until 2026. Currently, work at the nuclear plant is proceeding according to plan: the Russian side provides maintenance and supplies fuel. A double extension is expected to be signed until 2036.