Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, Armenia’s government press office reports. The high-ranking guests of the event were welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi. The summit was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Ministers of Slovakia and Croatia, and heads of government and representatives of a number of other states.
The joint photo session of the summit participants was followed by the opening ceremony of the event.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech, in which he, in particular, noted:
''Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I extend my sincere gratitude to the President of France for convening and generously hosting this important event, as well as to the International Atomic Energy Agency for its close collaboration.
Following the first successful Summit in Brussels in 2024, we are confident that this second Summit in Paris will further foster cooperation among countries that have chosen to develop civil nuclear capacities and will promote real-world solutions for advancing the shared objectives of decarbonization and energy sovereignty.
These objectives, together with growing global energy demands, have prompted a renewed examination of the competitiveness of nuclear power, and many countries now recognize that nuclear energy - as a dispatchable, low‑carbon power source - can partner well with renewable energy sources rather than compete with them.
Guided by this conviction, Armenia was among the first countries to fully support the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050 at COP28 , and we welcome the First Global Stocktake assessing progress toward the Paris Agreement goals. The Government of Armenia has also adopted a policy of maintaining nuclear energy as an essential factor of Armenia’s energy security and as a central component of its electricity mix.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, with the advancement of safety technologies, the life‑extension of the existing nuclear fleet provides a timely and cost-effective path to net zero. In this vein, Armenia, as many countries present here, has launched a program to extend the operational lifetime of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) until 2036. This extension will lay a solid foundation for the smooth and secure transition towards a new nuclear power unit.
To this end, our attention is centered on innovations in civil nuclear energy, particularly Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies, which offer promising prospects. Growing demand is encouraging leading companies to develop safer and more flexible solutions, with shorter construction timelines and scalable capacity that can better align with the needs of national electricity grids.
With these considerations, Armenia has made a decision to pursue Small Modular Reactor technology. Currently, we are carefully examining technologies and assessing proposals from international partners. The selection process is guided by the consideration of reliability, long-term sustainability, and our commitment to the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.
Excellencies,
On the path towards nuclear energy by 2050, a skilled workforce will be the backbone of the nuclear sector, from design and construction to safe operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. The implementation of training and education programs is essential to ensure the availability of the necessary workforce. In this regard, Armenia highly values international cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Thanks to these efforts and the dedication of Armenian experts, I am pleased to note that throughout the operational history of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant no incidents related to nuclear or radiation safety have occurred.
To conclude, I would like to emphasize the importance of the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, which is critically important for both current and future generations. Protection of human health and the environment should be our ultimate guiding principles.
We believe this Summit will foster the development of initiatives and partnerships among countries, international organizations, financial institutions and industry. I wish all participants productive and successful work.
Thank you''.
