Armenia to Decide on Type of New Metsamor NPP Unit Within Two Years

Armenia will make a decision on the type of a new energy unit of the nuclear power plant in the Western Armenian town of Metsamor within two years, Armenian Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Areg Galstyan told Sputnik on Tuesday.

VIENNA (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — In 2014, Armenia extended the service life of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant's second energy unit. Russia’s nuclear energy corporation Rosatom agreed to work jointly with Armenia on the project to extend the power unit’s service life until 2026.

"We have approximately 10 years to start the construction [of the new energy unit] on the same place [where Metsamor NPP is located]. We are 100 percent sure on the energy output level and that the block will use pressurized water reactor. We have one, maximum two years to make the final decision [on choosing the type of project]," Galstyan said.

Armenia's Metsamor plant, which is located 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the Turkish border, was built in 1970 with the first unit launched in 1976.