Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that his administration has not yet made a decision on which country it will cooperate with regarding the construction of a modular nuclear power plant set to replace the Metsamor NPP.

He was asked about the matter during his meeting with diplomats and analysts at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, a Warsaw-based think tank, during his official visit to Poland.

“Renewable energy is opening new opportunities for our country. Solar energy is developing rapidly in Armenia. As you know, our country has a nuclear power plant built during the Soviet era. In recent years, we have been able to establish solar energy capacity that exceeds the output of the nuclear power plant by more than double. Considering these developments, we no longer need a large nuclear power plant. Therefore, according to our experts’ assessment, we need a small nuclear power plant, which is why we have made a preliminary decision to have a small modular-type nuclear plant. We are now discussing this possibility with our partners. We are in talks with the United States, Russia, China, South Korea, and France. We are seeking the best option for our country, and this process is ongoing. We do not yet have a final decision, as we are still evaluating different proposals,” Pashinyan said.

The operational life of the Metsamor NPP has been extended until 2036.

Pashinyan earlier said that the government is evaluating offers from the United States, Russia, China, South Korea, and France regarding the construction of a modular nuclear power plant.

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1243129