The European Commission will provide Armenia with €5 million in financial aid to enhance the country’s nuclear safety and radiation protection system. The Armenian government has approved the proposal to sign a financing agreement titled “Strengthening Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection in Armenia” between Armenia and the European Commission.
Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Davit Khudatyan stated that this agreement continues a 2024 initiative under which Armenia already received €12.9 million, used for acquiring diesel generators.
The new funding aims to support the implementation of still-pending measures included in Armenia’s national action plan based on nuclear stress tests. These measures are intended to improve the safety of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), factoring in lessons learned from the Fukushima disaster, including risks associated with hydrogen buildup during accidents.
The support will also benefit Armenia’s nuclear regulatory authority, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee, and the Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety.
By strengthening the capabilities of the Committee and the Center, the aid will enable a comprehensive review of the ANPP’s periodic safety report, assessment of compliance with existing safety regulations, evaluation of the implementation of the national stress-test action plan measures, and advancement of nuclear safety culture and effective standards.
On August 1, 2024, the Armenian government decided to establish a closed joint-stock company to manage the program for constructing a new nuclear power unit (or units). On the same day, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure reported that a U.S. company is conducting a feasibility study for building a small modular nuclear power plant in Armenia.
