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TURKEY PLANS FORMAL COMPLAINT TO IAEA OVER METSAMOR NPP
by Andrew Neff
Global Insight
November 1, 2011
Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Ministry plans to submit a
formal complaint to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
over the continued operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant
(NPP) in neighbouring Armenia. A spokesperson for the ministry told
Platts that Turkey has "complained before many times that the plant
is old and dangerous", noting that the 1970s-era NPP is located in
a region prone to major earthquakes. Turkey's complaint follows a
recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 600 people
in the country's eastern province of Van. The Metsamor NPP, which
generates more than 40% of Armenia's energy supplies, was unaffected
by the earthquake, although a 1988 earthquake in Armenia prompted the
closure of the NPP after it suffered serious damage. The Metsamor NPP
remained closed until 1995, when one of the two reactors at the plant
was reactivated to alleviate a supply crunch brought on by an energy
blockade of the country by both Turkey and Azerbaijan in response to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Significance:Turkey's plans to complain to the IAEA over the continued
operation of the Metsamor NPP will strike many as hypocritical,
particularly as Turkey has plans to develop its own civilian nuclear
energy programme and has steadfastly refused to back down in the
face of rising criticism over the potential risks to an NPP in
Turkey (seeTurkey - Russia: 17 March 2011:). Perhaps in an effort to
demonstrate that Turkey is not simply playing politics in criticising
rival Armenia's NPP, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry
said that it also plans to complain about other nuclear power plants
around the world that continue to operate despite being considered
too old to operate safely.
by Andrew Neff
Global Insight
November 1, 2011
Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Ministry plans to submit a
formal complaint to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
over the continued operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant
(NPP) in neighbouring Armenia. A spokesperson for the ministry told
Platts that Turkey has "complained before many times that the plant
is old and dangerous", noting that the 1970s-era NPP is located in
a region prone to major earthquakes. Turkey's complaint follows a
recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 600 people
in the country's eastern province of Van. The Metsamor NPP, which
generates more than 40% of Armenia's energy supplies, was unaffected
by the earthquake, although a 1988 earthquake in Armenia prompted the
closure of the NPP after it suffered serious damage. The Metsamor NPP
remained closed until 1995, when one of the two reactors at the plant
was reactivated to alleviate a supply crunch brought on by an energy
blockade of the country by both Turkey and Azerbaijan in response to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Significance:Turkey's plans to complain to the IAEA over the continued
operation of the Metsamor NPP will strike many as hypocritical,
particularly as Turkey has plans to develop its own civilian nuclear
energy programme and has steadfastly refused to back down in the
face of rising criticism over the potential risks to an NPP in
Turkey (seeTurkey - Russia: 17 March 2011:). Perhaps in an effort to
demonstrate that Turkey is not simply playing politics in criticising
rival Armenia's NPP, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry
said that it also plans to complain about other nuclear power plants
around the world that continue to operate despite being considered
too old to operate safely.