YEREVAN. – Complete renovation of Armenia's NPP will be launched in 2017, Energy Minister Yervand Zakharyan told reporters on Wednesday.

Thanks to renovation, the deadline for operation will be prolonged till 2026, he said, adding that the renovation works are estimated at around $300 million.

“If the deadline of operation is 2026, it means we must begin to build a new power unit in 2018-19,” Zakharyan said.

The decision to extend the life of the NPP till 2026 was adopted by the government on September 13, 2013.