PM says scale of investments has changed Armenia’s electricity needs, modular nuclear plant may be insufficient

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the planned modular nuclear power plant may not be sufficient to meet the country’s growing electricity needs, as approved investment programs have pushed Armenia from an electricity surplus to a deficit.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan said the government continues discussions on the construction of a new nuclear power plant.

“The fact is that one year and four months ago, Armenia was a country with a surplus of electricity, and we had to think about where to consume our energy. One year later, Armenia has become a country with an electricity deficit. The fact that two AI factories have been established is not the issue. The issue is that the investment programs that have already been approved are of such a scale that Armenia now has an electricity deficit. In other words, our entire surplus is being fully consumed by the investment programs, and therefore, we need to think about what to do,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister noted that it has become necessary to consider the “possibility of importing electricity and generating electricity from our sources.”

“I have said dozens of times before that we need nothing more than a modular nuclear power plant. That has been our position. But now, due to this change, we have to understand that, most likely, a modular plant will not be enough for us,” the Prime Minister said.

Armenia is working to extend the operating life of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant until 2036, while steps will be taken to build a new nuclear power plant in the meantime. The government had previously said it was looking into a modular nuclear power plant project.