Armenian Nuclear Power Plant Ensures Our Energy Security and Independence as Armenia Marks the 55th Anniversary of the Nuclear Sector

In 2021, Armenia will celebrate the 55th anniversary of its nuclear sector. Fifty-five years ago, in 1966, the Council of Ministers of the USSR decided to build the first nuclear power plant in the Caucasus, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP). This event marked the beginning of the country’s rich nuclear history, as specialists in the field provide Armenia with affordable and environmentally clean energy, developing science and modern technologies to improve people’s quality of life.

“It is difficult to overestimate the role of the nuclear sector for Armenia. Without a doubt, the leader is the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, which provides more than a third of the country’s electricity and ensures our energy security and independence. But today I also want to mention the increased use of nuclear technologies in medicine and science. The presence of nuclear expertise in the country also contributes to the development of modern technologies, raising the training of personnel to a higher level. The nuclear industry in our country has developed thanks to the work of many scientific organizations and sectoral enterprises, including the Institute of Energy Research, the State Committee for Nuclear Safety Regulation under the Government of Armenia, the Armenian Research Institute of Nuclear Power Operation, the European Center for Nuclear Medicine, the Radioisotope Production Center, the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, and other scientific centers and institutions,” said Suren Papikyan, Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the veterans who created and successfully developed the nuclear sector in Armenia from scratch, and to the young specialists who have become worthy successors and contribute to the further development of the industry,” he added.

The development of Armenia’s nuclear sector has historically taken place in collaboration with Russian partners. The significance of such partnerships for the development of the sector was emphasized by Edward Martirosyan, General Director of ANPP: “The nuclear component is assigned a dominant role in Armenia's energy development program, which is why cooperation with leading institutes and enterprises of the Russian Federation operating within the structure of the Rosatom State Corporation has a long-term nature. The vast experience and serious developments of Russian institutes in the design of the latest types of reactors will be helpful in achieving our goals of constructing a new modern object to replace the ANPP from the initial phases.”

In this anniversary year, it is crucial to highlight that the construction and operation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant have contributed not only to the development of the country’s economy but have also made a significant investment in the global nuclear industry. “This was the first nuclear power plant designed for high seismicity regions. All developments and new approaches have later been included in the construction norms for nuclear power plants and are actively used to this day, particularly in seismic-prone areas such as Iran, India, and Bangladesh. Now our country’s nuclear sector is experiencing a new, extremely important phase in its history. Collaborative work is being done with Rosatom toward modernizing the station. The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant will gain new life as its operation is extended until 2026, and potentially until 2036, providing undoubtedly the best gift for the anniversary,” noted Hgera Sevikian, an advisor to the director of ANPP and a participant in the formation of Armenia's nuclear sector.

Today, the development of nuclear technologies is fostering sustainable development and scientific research. Thanks to the accumulated material, technical, and scientific base, new directions in the use of nuclear energy are emerging. “Nuclear technologies are being used worldwide for the benefit of humanity. They help address issues of healthcare and access to clean water, stimulate the development of new digital products, and assist in space research, as well as help fight climate change. For example, in recent years, nuclear medicine has gained momentum in Armenia: isotope production has begun, positron-emission tomography has been performed for the first time, and the European Center for Nuclear Medicine has opened. Now the residents of Armenia can receive assistance not only in other countries but right here at home,” said Ara Marjanyan, a UN energy expert in Armenia.

The nuclear sector has also allowed the country to form its own industry-specific scientific cluster. Thousands of people work at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, sectoral organizations, and related enterprises. The demand for highly qualified personnel is growing year by year, and with the modernization and the planned construction of a new nuclear power plant, a large number of young specialists will be needed to ensure the safety of the country's nuclear facilities.

“When I graduated from school, I was already sure that it was worth continuing my education in a technical direction. My father is an engineer, and I have relatives who are closely associated with the nuclear sector. That’s why I have been to Metsamor many times since early childhood and always looked forward to the opportunity to see the huge cooling towers of our nuclear power plant,” said Araks Margaryan, an engineer at the Armenian Research Institute of Nuclear Power Operation (Hayatom). “Now I am also an engineer and am very happy to be an employee of one of the leading organizations in the energy sector. The management and senior colleagues share their experience and teach us to apply the theoretical knowledge gained at the university in practice. I consider my work very interesting and promising. I am glad that I chose this direction, as the nuclear sector will always be in demand, and it is simply impossible to imagine existence without it in the modern world.”