Armenia pursues energy diversification amid Russian gas supply suspension

Armenia is navigating significant shifts in its energy landscape as it seeks to reduce dependence on Russian resources. Gazprom Armenia has announced a suspension of gas supplies from September 15 to 25, citing “scheduled maintenance and repair work in the Russian Federation.” While the company stated that domestic reserves and supplies from Iran would prevent shortages, the move follows Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent statements regarding the pursuit of alternative gas sources.

Simultaneously, the Armenian government is exploring long-term energy solutions by negotiating with five nations—the United States, Russia, China, France, and South Korea—to construct a new nuclear power plant. This initiative aims to replace the aging Soviet-era Metsamor facility, which is the only operating nuclear plant in the South Caucasus. While Russian state corporation Rosatom has provided a preliminary feasibility study for a 1,200-megawatt unit, Pashinyan indicated that the government is evaluating various reactor technologies and international proposals to determine the most suitable successor for the country’s electricity supply.