Armenia seeks to join nuclear cooperation agreement with United States

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. The United States has confirmed it is studying a request by Armenia to sign a deal that would allow Washington to transfer civil nuclear technology to Yerevan, CivilNet reported citing a State Department spokesperson.

“The U.S. Government does not share details of the negotiation process, but we can share that the State Department is giving Armenia’s request for a 123 Agreement the proper attention and due consideration,” a State Department spokesperson said in written comments to CivilNet Tuesday.

In 2022, Armenia and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Civil Nuclear Cooperation.

Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act generally requires the conclusion of a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement for significant transfers of nuclear material or equipment from the United States. Moreover, such agreements, commonly referred to as “123 Agreements,” facilitate cooperation in other areas, such as technical exchanges, scientific research, and safeguards discussions. 

Armenia plans to upgrade the lifecycle of Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, which relies on the Russian Rosatom state corporation for fuel supply and maintenance, until 2036. Then it will be decommissioned and replaced. The Armenian government in early August set up a new state agency in charge of developing the project for a new nuclear reactor to replace the Metsamor NPP.