Armenia needs to build a new nuclear power plant with a capacity of at least 1000 MW to meet the growing electricity needs of its economy. This opinion was expressed by UN national energy expert, Candidate of Technical Sciences Ara Marjanyan. According to his assessment, demand will be increased by five areas: data centers and artificial intelligence, electric transport, deep processing of minerals, chemical industry, and pharmaceuticals. The expert believes that preference should be given to VVER-1000 type reactors, whose parameters and operational experience are well studied.

Additional demand, according to Marjanyan, will be created by the development of transport infrastructure. He proposes expanding the Yerevan metro from one line and 10 stations to three lines and 24 stations, as well as organizing railway communication with Zvartnots Airport and neighboring cities. Energy-intensive industries for processing copper and other metals, the restoration of the chemical industry, and the development of pharmaceuticals will also require stable sources of electricity. The expert does not rule out that by 2036, even a new 1000 MW power unit may not be able to fully cover future demand.

Marjanyan believes that practical work on the project should begin in early 2027. According to his assessment, by 2036–2037, the country will need at least 1000 MW of new nuclear generation, and in about five years, another unit with a capacity of about 1200 MW may be needed. He advocates for the creation of a reserve of generating capacities, considering it a condition for the development of a high-tech economy. At the same time, the expert considers small modular reactors a less predictable option due to the uncertainty of implementation timelines and operational characteristics.