US still lacks successful modular plant project, and Armenia is viewed as testing ground – Vahe Davtyan

Armenia’s current nuclear energy policy raises a number of strategic and practical questions, energy expert Vahe Davtyan said in an interview with Alpha News.

According to him, while some initiatives may make sense in the long term, the directions chosen by the government at this stage do not provide sufficient clarity.

Commenting on reports that a modular reactor might be built in Armenia with US support, Davtyan noted that the United States has no operational experience with modular nuclear plants.

“The effectiveness of nuclear programs is also affected by the fact that such projects in the United States still face serious technical, economic, and commercial challenges. It is expected that the first modular reactor under construction in the US will be commissioned in 2031, but even that is uncertain,” the expert said.

He added that only Russia and China have some experience in this field. Nevertheless, it is evident, he argued, that Armenia is giving preference to Washington in nuclear energy by signing one or two agreements.

Davtyan also recalled that publications from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission highlight the complexities of implementing such projects.

“Given that the US still lacks the necessary experience and has no successfully completed project, it can be concluded that Armenia is being considered by external actors as a testing ground,” he said.