YEREVAN, JUNE 5, ARMENPRESS. UN National Expert on Energy Ara Marjanyan has said that building a new nuclear reactor at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Station (NPP) would take 10 to 12 years.

He said it is imperative for Armenia to constantly generate nuclear power, thus the NPP requires a new 1000-1200MW reactor by 2036.

The lifecycle of the Armenian NPP has been extended to 2026, with another 10-year extension planned.

Marjanyan highlighted that the new reactor must be completed before decommissioning the current one.

“As you know, Armenia and Russia signed an inter-state agreement last year envisaging the construction of a 1000-1200 megawatt reactor. By the agreement, a roadmap is to be developed within a year and a final decision is to be made on the type and other technical parameters of the reactor. The construction work will commence by yearend 2024 or early 2025. The construction of the atomic reactor will cost around three to five billion dollars. I think this is a reasonable expenditure, and it is imperative for Armenia to have constant nuclear generation on its territory. I think the construction will take ten to twelve years,” he said.