Rosatom sees no technical obstacles to extending the operation of the Armenian NPP until 2036. At the same time, the option of further operation of the plant until 2046 is also being considered, said Alexey Likhachev, head of the state corporation, answering a question from ARKA news agency.
Extending the service life for another ten years will require additional investments in safety and automation systems, reactor equipment, and spent nuclear fuel storage infrastructure. According to Rosatom's estimates, the total costs could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. Such costs are expected to lead to a twofold increase in electricity prices between 2036 and 2046.
An alternative scenario remains the termination of operation of the current power unit in 2036 with the fastest possible commissioning of new nuclear generation. However, the final decision on the operating period of the Armenian NPP will be made by the Armenian authorities and the national regulatory body, taking into account technical and economic factors.