“As is well known, the Metsamor nuclear power plant has a substantial safety margin -- its reactor is specially adapted to the region's high seismic activity … The plant's reliability has also been confirmed by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” said Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
“In the modern world -- especially given the unsuccessful transitions of several European countries to renewable energy sources -- peaceful nuclear energy is one of the factors of sovereignty and energy security. Closing a domestic nuclear power plant would only increase a country's dependence on other countries for energy,” she added in written comments.
Zakharova commented on what she described as “statements in the foreign press” to the effect that the Metsamor plant “operates on the basis of outdated technologies and poses a danger to the entire region.” She said that they are meant to “sow discord in Russian-Armenian cooperation in this sector.”
Visiting Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave earlier this month, Aliyev that the Soviet-built facility is “obsolete and poses a danger to the entire region.” Azerbaijan is ready to supply electricity to Armenia after its closure, he said. In his words, Azerbaijani power supplies would be carried from a U.S.-run transit corridor which is due to connect Nakhichevan to the rest of Azerbaijan through Armenia.
Metsamor’s sole functioning reactor, which generates roughly a third of Armenia’s electricity, went into service in 1980. The 400-megawatt reactor’s life has been twice extended as a result of capital repairs mostly carried out by Russian specialists. It is now due to be decommissioned in 2036.
The current Armenian government claims to be negotiating with various foreign countries and companies interested in replacing the plant with a modern facility equipped with small modular reactors (SMRs). The government’s critics dismiss the claims as a smokescreen for its plans to end Armenia’s reliance on nuclear energy.
Pashinian gave them more ammunition with his ambiguous remarks on the issue made in the Armenian parliament on Monday. He said that over the next year his government “must finally decide with whom and which nuclear power plant we are going to build.” He at the same time did not rule out the possibility of Metsamor remaining operational after 2036. Pashinian further noted that the country’s former government had pledged to close the plant.
“We must explore all ways of generating electricity in our country: from biothermal technology to green hydrogen,” he added in the same context.
Narek Karapetian, the parliamentary leader of the main opposition Strong Armenia alliance, was quick to accuse Pashinian of preparing the ground for executing what he called Aliyev order to shut down Metsamor.