The head of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, stated that Armenia's rejection of Russian nuclear technologies could lead to the loss of key competencies in nuclear energy. According to him, the country remains the only state in the region with operating nuclear generation, and maintaining this direction is important for the stability of the energy system.
He noted that Yerevan needs to decide on a partner for the development of the nuclear industry by 2026–2027, since after 2036, the current power unit of the Metsamor NPP will need to be replaced. Likhachev emphasized that two technological schools actually dominate the world – Russian (a legacy of the Soviet one) and American, and the transition between them will require restructuring personnel training and the entire operational system.
The head of the state corporation also expressed doubts about the readiness of some new solutions, including small modular reactors, for industrial operation. The Armenian authorities, in turn, announce plans to build a new modular station and intend to choose a specific model by the end of 2027, maintaining a course towards modernizing the country's nuclear energy.