It is quite logical that, despite close political cooperation with the United States (one of the main rivals of Rosatom in the nuclear sector), the Armenian leadership is for expanding economic and technological cooperation with Russia, Alexander Ignatyuk, an analyst for the Energocapital Company said, commenting on Russian-Armenian cooperation in constructing new 1,060 MW water-moderated water-cooled power reactors in Armenia.

Armenian powermen are well acquainted with such reactors operating at the Armenian nuclear-power plant (NPP). Also, Armenia is a seismically active region, and only Russian specialists have successful experience in constructing secure HPPs in the region, Ignatyuk said.

Russia will not only construct new reactors, but also carry out maintenance work and refueling, Polit.ru reports.

At present Inter RAO EES is managing the only Armenian NPP, which generates 45% of the energy output in the country. Russia also supplies traditional energy carriers to Armenia.

The RA Government reported the signing of an Armenian-Russian agreement on cooperation in the construction of nuclear reactors in Armenia. The first point of the agreement provides for the construction of new reactors in Armenia in conformity with European standards under the NPP-92 project. The operating life of each reactor is 60 years.
The new reactors are expected to be constructed near the first and second reactors of the Mestamor NPP. The construction is to get under way late in 2012.

The construction project is estimated at U.S. $5-5.5m. Armenia and Russia will co-own the new NPP.