Explosion in Metsamor would mean Fukushima
By Rashid Shirinov
Metsamor nuclear power plant (NPP) is a threat not only for Armenia
itself, but also for the whole world, Yusuf Chinar, the head of
Strategic Outlook Turkish International Research Center, told
Trend.
He compared the NPP with widely known Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, stressing that Armenia could share Japan’s fate in that issue.
The Fukushima-1 accident, a major radiation disaster of the 7th level of seven possible occurred on March 11, 2011 as a result of the strongest ever earthquake in Japan and ensuing tsunami.
The United Nations constantly urged Armenia of due closure of the NPP; whilst Armenian government turned a deaf ear to those statements.
Chinar named the obvious reasons of such behavior of Armenia: “First, Armenia is covering its energy needs at the expense of the Metsamor NPP. The second reason is political – the nuclear power plant is located close to Turkey and Azerbaijan, continuing to pose a threat to the security of these countries.”
The Strategic Outlook’s president expressed that Armenia have never wanted to close the NPP, even in the times of normal relations with Turkey.
Chinar urged the international community to pay due attention to Metsamor NPP problem.
He noted that due to the situation in the Middle East and threat of conflicts in the Caucasus, a slightest terrorist attack at the Metsamor nuclear power plant could lead to disaster in the entire region.
Metsamor NPP was built in 1970 put into operation in 1977 near the city of Metsamor, Armenia. It was closed after the earthquake of 1988, but the Armenian government reopened it in 1995. The NPP consists of two power generating units.
The NPP is located close to the region’s four states’ borders: 120 kilometers to Azerbaijani and Georgian, 60 km to Iranian and 16 km to Turkish lands.
The European Union insists on closing the NPP offering 200 million Euro. Despite this, the NPP is still functioning as it produces about 40 percent of Armenia's electricity and no alternative sources seem to be found in Armenia.
A campaign to stop the exploitation of Metsamor NPP started recently in change.org by activists could gain around 2,500 subscribes so far.
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