THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ARMENIA’S ENERGY SECTOR: DOMESTIC PRIORITIES AND EXTERNAL PRESSURE

The paper explores the economic and geopolitical dimensions of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) operation. The development of nuclear energy in Armenia is examined in the context of the country’s long-term strategic interests. Special attention is paid to the prospects for increasing electricity exports within the framework of the North–South electricity corridor. The ANPP is characterized as a cornerstone of Armenia’s energy security. It is established that the ongoing transformation of the country’s energy sector, with a focus on solar power and a gradual reduction in the share of nuclear generation in the energy mix, entails significant risks and threats to energy security and sustainability. The article evaluates how Türkiye and Azerbaijan instrumentalize environmental discourse as part of their political and informational campaigns against the ANPP. This study examines the specifics of Russian-Armenian relations in the nuclear energy sector. It demonstrates that amid growing geopolitical competition in the South Caucasus, a number of extra-regional actors are seeking to establish their presence in Armenia’s nuclear energy industry. The proposals from Russia and the United States concerning the construction of a new nuclear power unit in the republic are considered separately. A comparative analysis has established that the project proposed by Russia appears to be the most feasible for Armenia.

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