What Caused Power Outages in Several Areas of Yerevan Last Night at Midnight

Last night around midnight, power outages occurred in several areas of Yerevan. Reports of power outages also came from regions near Yerevan. Several users on the Armenian Facebook platform noted that there were issues at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.

The news division of Auroranews contacted the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), who stated that the issue was not connected to them and was outside their jurisdiction.

We also spoke with the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, Hakob Vardanyan. In our conversation, Mr. Vardanyan mentioned that there were adverse weather conditions yesterday, including heavy rain and lightning, which led to the plant's safety systems disconnecting it from the main network at 00:20. Approximately 10 minutes later, electricity supply to residents was restored.

The plant’s systems were studied throughout the day, and no issues were found. The safety system at the power plant is very sensitive and operates according to the latest technologies, and it was able to immediately disconnect the plant from the system in that situation.

The nuclear power plant is not yet reconnected to the main grid, as any time a safety system operates, comprehensive inspections and studies must be conducted before it can be reintegrated. Approval for safety must also be granted to reconnect the plant to the grid, which will occur in the coming days.

Since the nuclear plant is not just a button that can be pressed to join the system, it will take 36 hours to restore connections. There are currently no issues at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.