From September 30 to October 9, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant hosted the IAEA SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operation) mission — focusing on the safety aspects of long-term operation.

The SALTO mission is a high-level expert assessment process conducted by the IAEA with the aim of evaluating nuclear power plants’ readiness for safe and long-term operation, based on international safety standards and best global practices.

The mission was led by IAEA expert Bryce Lehman (USA), with Gabor Petоfi (Hungary) serving as deputy team leader. The team included leading specialists from the USA, Argentina, Ukraine, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

During the mission, experts thoroughly reviewed the plant’s performance across several key areas, including improvement of ageing management systems, enhancement of equipment reliability, implementation of long-term operation programs, and continuous safety oversight.

It was noted that since the previous SALTO missions (2013, 2016, and 2018), significant progress has been achieved at the Armenian NPP—particularly in equipment monitoring, ageing management, and the development of a strong safety culture.

The implementation of the SALTO mission once again reaffirms the Republic of Armenia’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety and ensuring the plant’s compliance with IAEA international requirements.