Russia will submit Armenia the most favorable proposals for the development of nuclear energy in the country, Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russian state corporation Rosatom, told reporters, RIA Novosti reports.

Likhachev said that the operating life of Armenia’s nuclear power plant, after the modernization which will be carried out by Rosatom, will be extended until 2036. At the same time, he expressed the opinion that this is a “certain limit,” after which, due to a number of reasons, it will hardly be possible to continue work at the Armenian nuclear power plant.

“Of course, it is not difficult to calculate that only ten years remain not only to adopt, but also to implement the decisions on the construction of new base power plants in Armenia. We have repeatedly submitted relevant proposals to the Armenian government, both on high-, medium- and small-capacity units. Each of these solutions has its advantages and challenges, but the final word always belongs to the customers,” Likhachev stated.

According to him, it is the Armenian government that should determine the sub-structure and the overall development prospects of the country’s energy system.

“In my opinion, Armenia cannot exist without nuclear energy. But the issue is not even that it is necessary, but that the country has possessed this competence for many years,” the head of Rosatom explained, adding that Armenia has been a carrier of peaceful nuclear technology since the late 1970s, and this advantage should not be missed.

Speaking to reporters, Likhachev added that specific requests submitted by the Armenian government regarding the resolution of this issue may be discussed during the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"I not only believe, but I am also completely sure that Russia will make the most favorable offers, since we have been united by decades of very constructive cooperation, we are united by fraternal, and in many families, kinship relations," he continued, noting that Armenia's energy independence is impossible without nuclear energy, and that, in his opinion, Russian solutions should be in demand in the near future.