TURKISH MPS’ CONCERN OVER ARMENIAN NPP UNFOUNDED

news.am
April 9 2010
Armenia

The RA Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has responded to the
unnecessary alarm over the Armenian nuclear-power station created by
Turkish MPs.

The Turkish parliamentarians expressed their "concern" over the
Metsamor nuclear power plant (NPP), which is located 20 km of Igdır,
Turkey, in a seismic zone. According to them, the NPP constitutes
a threat to Turkey’s eastern regions. They also pointed out that,
according to the security standards set by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), the Armenian NPP ranks 145th of the 146.

The claims are not confirmed by any of the IAEA documents. According
to the IAEA, 438 nuclear power reactors are currently in operation
worldwide. The nuclear security issues are the focus of attention of
the RA Presidential Nuclear Security Council, which is formed of the
best specialists. The IAEA is coordinating the measures to enhance
the safety of the Armenian NPP. In conformity with the Convention on
Nuclear Safety, Armenia presents a national report on nuclear safety
to the IAEA every three years. The report is available to all the
IAEA member-states.

As regards seismic safety, in 2009 international experts examined
the platform of the Armenian NPP. The examination showed no reasons
for concern.

Moreover, the Armenian population within a 50-km radius of the NPP
reaches 2,145,000 against 126,000 in Turkey.