Expert: Mothballing of ANPP can seriously affect Armenia`s energy  security and national security as a whole 

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.