President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during an interview with state television on 11 August 2026. Official photo.
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Azerbaijan could start supplying electricity to Armenia, President Ilham Aliyev said on Tuesday. Aliyev argued that Armenia cannot indefinitely extend the operation of the Soviet-built Armenian (Metsamor) Nuclear Power Plant and could face power shortages if the station shuts down. The potential step marks another sign of growing rapprochement between the two countries after decades of conflict.
In an interview, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijani specialists had conducted preliminary surveys in Armenia and identified potential locations for power transmission line pylons.
“I hope the Armenian side will not delay a decision on this matter. In the end, they themselves may need it most, given that their main source of energy today is a nuclear power plant — and one that is under foreign control,” Aliyev said.
He noted that the project to construct a transmission line to carry electricity from Azerbaijan through Armenia to Nakhchivan was ready and that its implementation would take a maximum of six months.
The current operational lifespan of the Metsamor NPP in Armenia runs until 2036, and the country has announced plans to replace it with a modular plant. In February, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the facility’s operation could be extended until 2046.
Aliyev also recalled that Azerbaijan and Turkey had repeatedly “expressed concern” over the dangers of the Metsamor NPP to the region “at various international forums,” and in 2023 claimed that the facility “uses outdated technology and suffers from serious technical problems.”
On Wednesday, Sargis Khandanyan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract (Քաղաքացիական պայմանագիր) party, speaking to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, did not rule out the possibility of purchasing electricity from Azerbaijan. Khandanyan stated that mutual exchanges would be possible after integrating the energy grids of the two countries, though it was too early to discuss details.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Pashinyan commented on Aliyev’s statement, noting that while Armenia previously had an electricity surplus, the country could now face new demands.
“In terms of constructing new AI factories in Armenia, we are forced to consider revising our energy strategies in order to meet these new conditions and expectations.”
Earlier in January, Pashinyan announced in parliament that Armenia and Azerbaijan would eventually develop a shared power grid.
In response to Aliyev’s statements, Narek Karapetyan, leader of the opposition Strong Armenia party, dismissed concerns about a potential energy crisis in Armenia, asserting that the country was capable of building another nuclear power plant.
Aliyev’s statements regarding a working group visiting Armenia were previously unknown to the Armenian public. Although MP Khandanyan stated he was unaware of the details of the Azerbaijani specialists’ visit, Karapetyan mentioned that they learned of the visit to the Meghri region in recent months through informal channels rather than an official notification.
Until June, Narek Karapetyan’s uncle, businessman Samvel Karapetyan, owned Electric Networks of Armenia, the primary electricity supplier in the country. Pashinyan announced that the company would be nationalised.
“It will be transferred into state ownership and placed under trust management,” Pashinyan stated on 7 August during a cabinet meeting.
The nationalisation process of Electric Networks began after Russian-Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetyan was arrested and spent over six months in pre-trial detention before being placed under house arrest. In June 2025, he was charged with attempting to usurp power following his statement supporting the church amid tensions between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church.