Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi discussed in Vienna progress on the program to extend the operating life of the second power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, as well as issues related to selecting a model for a new nuclear power plant.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 70th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference.
During the meeting, the sides discussed projects already implemented through sectoral cooperation with the IAEA, as well as programs planned for the future.
Khudatyan also reaffirmed an invitation for Rafael Grossi to visit Armenia to participate in events planned as part of COP17.
Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Narek Apitonyan, Armenian Nuclear Power Plant CJSC Director General Eduard Martirosyan and other members of the Armenian delegation also attended the meeting.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Narek Apitonyan said Armenia had made a decision only on the type of its new nuclear power plant: it will be modular. However, it remains unclear which partner Armenia will cooperate with and which country’s proposal will be selected.
During U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit, Yerevan and Washington signed an agreement marking the completion of negotiations on peaceful nuclear cooperation. Vance also said U.S. nuclear reactors would come to Armenia. Moscow’s response followed swiftly, with senior Russian officials saying Armenia had no real alternative to Russia’s proposal.
