Armenia needs a stable and manageable energy production system based on constant-output power plants and large-scale energy storage capacities. This was stated by physicist and deputy chairman of the Armenian National Congress, Aram Manukyan.
“The energy system is one of the most important components of Armenia’s security. All wars taking place around the world today are connected to energy. The Iran–United States conflict is purely a war over energy resources,” he said.
According to Manukyan, Armenia’s main challenge in the coming years will be to make its energy system as independent as possible.
Complete independence is impossible, but the country must create a system that is manageable and not dependent on weather conditions or annual water availability.
“We need power plants that provide constant energy, that can be controlled and regulated,” he stressed.
Risks of energy instability
Manukyan noted that Armenia and Georgia currently operate under an agreement according to which Armenia receives electricity from Georgia during periods of water shortages, while Armenia provides energy support when Georgia faces similar problems.
However, according to him, such exchanges create energy fluctuations.
He emphasized that solar energy systems have developed significantly in Armenia, but excessive expansion of solar energy could eventually lead to a crisis within the energy system.
Manukyan pointed out that there are already international examples where energy systems became unstable or collapsed because of such imbalances.
“Therefore, it is necessary to create a system in which generated energy can be stored and managed,” he stated.
According to him, this requires energy storage systems, large dams, hydropower reserves, and powerful battery systems capable of regulating energy flows at any moment.
If Armenia cooperates with Western countries to establish production of storage systems or install modern equipment, solar energy could become a highly перспективный sector and allow the country to export electricity to neighboring states.
Nuclear energy remains the key issue
However, the main issue remains nuclear energy.
Manukyan stated that Armenia’s nuclear power plant has become a political “bone of contention” among Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Armenia.
He stressed that it is not accidental that there are attempts to remove Armenia from the list of countries possessing nuclear energy capabilities. Only around 30 countries in the world have such capacity.
“If we build a 1200-megawatt nuclear power plant using Russian technology — the best technology — Armenia will be able to control its energy system and become an energy exporter,” he said.
According to Manukyan, new nuclear power plants are already being built in the region. Therefore, the sooner Armenia enters this system, the faster it can become an exporting country.
“This is one of the guarantees of Armenia’s strategy and security. The stronger a country is through its energy system, the more sovereign and independent it becomes,” Manukyan concluded.