Thursday, February 29 2024 14:37

ArmInfo. Two or three nuclear power units with a capacity of 200 MW each would make it possible to more effectively manage the energy system in Armenia. This was stated at the plenary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia by  Chairman of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) of the Republic of Armenia Garegin Baghramyan.

According to Bagramyan, with under such conditions, the operator of  the electric power system will have more flexibility in regulating  energy flows, since it will not have to withdraw all 400 MW of power  from the currently operating second power unit of the Armenian  Nuclear Power Plant during scheduled maintenance work. The head of  PSRC recalled that a working group chaired by Minister of Territorial  Administration and Infrastructures of the Republic of Armenia Gnel  Sanosyan has been formed to study the issue. He noted that  international experience needs to be studied in this direction, in  particular, the availability of similar nuclear power units on the  markets, as well as the degree of their efficiency and safety.

The development of nuclear energy in Armenia is included in the  Industry Development Strategy until 2040. According to the plan, a  new nuclear power unit should be built in the country by 2036.  Currently, work continues at the Armenian NPP to extend the life of  the existing N2 power unit life. The station has a license to produce  electricity until 2026. "We plan to extend this period until 2036. By  this time, a new nuclear power unit should be built in the country.  The current year was very important in terms of the development and  approval of the necessary documentation for the extension program. We  are talking about a project worth about $180 million. Already  Construction work will begin in the near future," earlier Minister of  Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan noted.

In 2024, the Armenian NPP began implementing a program to extend the  life of the N2 power unit until 2036. AMD 20.2 billion will be  allocated for these purposes. In parallel, a new nuclear power unit  should be built in the country by the specified date. The question is  the power of this unit, which must be combined with the country's  energy system. Earlier, the United States offered Yerevan its option  for the construction of small modular reactors, as stated by Maria  Longi., EUR/ACE Assistance Coordinator . In turn, the Russian  Federation proposed its project for a power unit with a capacity of  1200 MW, but, as  Minister of Territorial Administration and  Infrastructure of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan previously pointed out, the  construction of a unit of such capacity is fraught with problems,  since the capacity of the entire energy system of Armenia is 1200 MW  alone. "We have to make a difficult decision about the type of  reactor," the minister emphasized.