Rosatom officially submitted a proposal to the Armenian government for the construction of a new nuclear power unit with a capacity of at least 1 GW. According to Alexey Likhachev, the CEO of the state corporation, this generation volume corresponds to the assessment of the country's energy system needs until 2040. However, the final decision rests with the Armenian government.
As a basic project, Rosatom proposes the VVER-1000. Likhachev noted that the corporation uses such reactors in its own projects and also builds them in India and Iran. According to him, the unit combines high economic efficiency with 3+ generation safety systems. Materials for the initial stage of discussion have already been handed over to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and government representatives.
Rosatom links the need for a 1 GW unit to the expected increase in electricity demand and the decommissioning of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. With an average consumption increase of 4% per year, by 2036, the deficit of affordable generation could reach about 1 GW. Likhachev also pointed out sharp daily load fluctuations due to the high share of solar generation. Unlike solar, the nuclear unit is capable of providing constant output regardless of weather conditions. According to him, a 10-year fuel supply will effectively allow the reactor to operate as a 'nuclear battery'.