Armenia intends to finally determine the project of a new nuclear power plant within the next year. The decision on with whom and what kind of nuclear power plant to build should be made no later than 2027. At the same time, proposals from different countries are being considered, including the Russian option. The operating Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is designed to operate until 2036, although the possibility of further extending its operation is being discussed.
In parallel, the country is accelerating the development of renewable energy and storage systems. The capacity of solar power plants has already grown from 16 MW in 2018 to 1213 MW. By 2031, the government plans to create at least 800 MW of storage capacity, which will allow storing the excess of daytime solar generation and using it during night hours. The government program also provides for bringing the capacity of photovoltaic stations to 1000 MW.
The growth in energy consumption is associated, among other things, with large-scale investment projects and the development of AI infrastructure. Pashinyan previously stated that Armenia has already faced an electricity deficit, and the needs of future projects may require significantly more generation. In particular, the prime minister did not rule out the construction of a nuclear power plant with a capacity of up to 1000 MW. The goal of the energy program is not only to meet domestic demand, but also to create opportunities for electricity export.