U.S. to supply modular reactors and invest $9 billion
The United States plans to invest $9 billion in Armenia’s nuclear energy sector. This was announced by U.S. Vice President JD Vance during a meeting with RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan.
According to him, the investment program will be implemented in two stages: approximately $5 billion will be provided in the first stage, and an additional $4 billion in the second stage. Vance also stated that negotiations for the “123 Agreement” on cooperation in civil nuclear energy have been concluded, which will enable American and Armenian companies to implement joint projects.
The U.S. Vice President noted that the project involves Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. According to him, the involvement of American technologies reflects high trust in Armenia and is aimed at strengthening energy security and stability.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had stated that negotiations for the construction of a small modular reactor were underway with five potential partners: Russia, the U.S., China, South Korea, and France.
On August 1, 2024, during a session of the RA Government, a decision was made to establish a Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) to manage the project for constructing a new nuclear power unit or units. On the same day, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure informed that an American company was conducting a feasibility study in Armenia to evaluate the viability of constructing a small modular nuclear power plant.
During the government session on February 8, the Prime Minister announced publicly for the first time that the government was discussing the possibility of having a modular nuclear power plant.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) currently provides about one-third of the country’s electricity production. The first unit of the plant was commissioned in December 1976, and the second in January 1980. The initial decommissioning deadline was set for 2016, but it was extended until 2026 with the participation of specialists from “Rosatom.” In December 2023, “Rosatom Service” and “Armenian Nuclear Power Plant” CJSC signed a contract for the implementation of measures to extend the operational life until 2036.
