ArmInfo.At a meeting of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, an appeal was made demanding that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) take measures regarding the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia, located 16 km from the borders of Turkey. This was reported by the Turkish Anadolu Agency.
The Turkish Parliament emphasizes that the nuclear power plant, due to the end of its operational life, poses a danger to the entire region.
The Petitions Commission of the Turkish Parliament, which analyzes petitions and complaints submitted to parliament from citizens, received a request to take action against the risks posed by nuclear power plants. The response noted that the city of Igdir has developed a Radiation Emergency Action Plan, defining the principles of planning and action in the event of a radiation emergency that could cause health consequences for people outside the nuclear installation site or in Igdir.
The response from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls that the Metsamor nuclear power plant is under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the TR emphasizes that the IAEA and the European Union have determined that the safety state of the plant does not meet modern technical standards. The agency continues to work to correct safety deficiencies related to the plant's structural deficiencies. IAEA staff periodically conduct visits and inspections to Armenia, and after each safety mission a detailed report is compiled. The Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the closure of the nuclear power plant is the exclusive responsibility of Armenia. However, review meetings of the Nuclear Safety Convention, to which Armenia is a party, the Nuclear Safety Conference and other relevant forums emphasize that the nuclear power plant is located in a region prone to natural disasters. "The nuclear power plant was built very close to our border and is a facility operated using old technology. The station represents a risk factor for the entire region. Our country speaks about these risks both at the IAEA general conferences and when making the necessary appeal to the international community. Our region and the world cannot afford a second Chernobyl. Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant must be closed. In this regard, this problem will continue to be under the close attention of our country," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Commenting on this requirement, Doctor of Political Sciences, President of the Energy Security Institute Vahe Davtyan noted that the IAEA is an organization within the UN system. "The same UN that actually legitimized the crime committed by Azerbaijanis in Artsakh. The Armenian nuclear power plant has been under the radar of Baku and Ankara since 1995, when the second power unit of the station was restarted. During these years, Turkish-Azerbaijani propaganda spared no effort and energy for anti-nuclear lobbying. It has been repeatedly stated about the environmental risks of the station, the spread of cancer in Turkish settlements in the border zone, and even about children born with anomalies. Yerevan has always easily refuted this nonsense at the scientific, political and public levels. Today, more than favorable conditions have been created for the implementation of Ankara's strategy. Taking into account the liberalization of the Armenian electricity market, the mothballing of nuclear power plant could make Armenia an electricity importing country. At the same time, we may lose the strategic status of the only country developing a "peaceful atom" in space. It should also be recalled that Turkey is currently building a huge nuclear complex, and Baku is negotiating with Rosatom on the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Azerbaijan. The mothballing of the Armenian nuclear power plant can seriously affect the safety of our energy sector and national security as a whole," Davtyan emphasized.
In September of this year, the RA government decided to re-extend the operating life of the second power unit of the Armenian NPP. According to Gera Sevikyan, Advisor to the Director General of the Armenian NPP, the project will require about $150 million.
It is planned that about 45-50 million dollars of this amount will be allocated in the form of a Russian loan, and the rest will be drawn from the state budget. At The station is currently undergoing a comprehensive inspection of major equipment and components as part of scheduled maintenance, but there is no talk yet of concluding agreements with suppliers of equipment and services.
