Armenia looking at offers from Russia, other countries to build modular NPP - minister

YEREVAN. June 11 (Interfax) - Armenia is looking at offers from several countries to build a modular nuclear power plant, Armenian Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Davit Khudatyan said.

"We have decided that the new nuclear power plant in Armenia will be a modular one. The model and manufacturer have not yet been selected. There are proposals from the U.S., France, Russia, Korea, and China. Russia, for example, has a specific modular nuclear power plant," Khudatyan told reporters on Thursday.

He said Armenia was in no rush to make a decision, as its current nuclear power plant can operate until 2036.

The Armenian NPP is one of the country's main sources of electricity. The station operates a single power unit, with a first generation VVER-440 reactor, and its fuel is supplied by Russia's TVEL corporation.

Rosatom gave Armenia a package of detailed proposals on the construction of a new nuclear power plant unit at the end of December.

The United States will invest $9 billion in Armenia's nuclear energy sector, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in Yerevan on February 9.

U.S. firm Sargent & Lundy completed a pre-feasibility study in May for replacing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant unit with small modular reactors using American technology.

Also in May, Armenia and the U.S. signed a comprehensive strategic partnership document, according to which they will explore opportunities to diversify and expand energy production, including the deployment of a small modular reactor.

The document says the U.S. can provide Armenia with opportunities to increase access to regional and European energy markets, as well as access to U.S. civil nuclear energy services and infrastructure