USTDA continues to work with Armenia on developing a number of projects, says Karl Kress

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) continues to work with Armenia on developing a number of projects, Karl Kress, USTDA Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, said in response to a question about whether the agency is in talks with Armenia on the supply of small modular reactors (SMRs).

Kress addressed the issue during a press briefing while responding to a journalist’s question.

The journalist noted that Armenia’s nuclear programme had long been linked to Russia’s Rosatom and asked whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s election victory had changed the situation, and whether the U.S. Trade and Development Agency was negotiating with Armenia on the supply of small modular reactors.

“We have been working with Armenia for some time on developing a number of project concepts in the country. That work has continued after the elections in exactly the same way as it did before. At this stage, we at USTDA have not seen any changes in that regard or in the overall approach. As I mentioned, we have been cooperating with Armenia on the development of several projects for some time, and we hope to be able to announce some news on this front in the near future,” Kress said.

Armenia plans to extend the operational lifetime of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant by another 10 years, until 2036. Before then, the government intends to build a new nuclear power plant.

The Armenian authorities have already announced that they have decided on the type of the new facility, which will be a modular nuclear power plant. Armenia is currently holding talks with five countries — the United States, France, China, Russia and South Korea — on the project.