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IAEA GRANTS SIX NEW SEISMIC STATIONS TO ARMENIA
AzerNews, Azerbaijan April 10 2013
10 April 2013, 02:21 (GMT+05:00) By Sara Rajabova
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) granted new seismic stations
to Armenia for improving seismic safety around the Metsamor Nuclear
Power Plant.
IAEA, in order to increase the seismic safety of the Armenian Metsamor
nuclear power plant under a national program of technical cooperation
has granted six new seismic stations GURALP 6TD for improving the
telemetric seismic network, placed and operating around the power
plant, Armenian media reported citing the press service of the Armenian
Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Metsamor is one of the few remnants of the old Soviet nuclear reactors
built without primary containment structures. Only a few of these
first generation water-moderated reactors are still in use today,
being past or near their original retirement ages, but what sets the
Metsamor nuclear power plant apart from all the others is the fact
that it's located in a potentially hazardous seismic zone.
Metsamor NPP was built in 1970. After the devastating earthquake
in Spitak in 1988 it was closed, but in 1995, the operation of
the station was resumed and a second reactor was launched despite
international criticism.
The lifespan of Metsamor expired in 2010, but Armenia and IAEA experts
have agreed to continue the operation of the plant until 2016.
The nuclear power plant poses a serious threat to the security of
the entire region, especially to the neighboring countries - Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan. Therefore, the three countries demand immediate
shutdown of the plant in view of the danger.
According to environmentalists and scientists from all over the region,
seismic activity in the area renders Metsamor nuclear plant an extreme
risk even if a new generation reactor were to be built. Given the
large number of minor earthquakes in the area in the last ten years,
as well as the intensification of the seismic processes, scientists
predict that in the event of a major accident at Metsamor, not only
Armenia, but also other countries of the South Caucasus and Middle
East states would be severely affected.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan April 10 2013
10 April 2013, 02:21 (GMT+05:00) By Sara Rajabova
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) granted new seismic stations
to Armenia for improving seismic safety around the Metsamor Nuclear
Power Plant.
IAEA, in order to increase the seismic safety of the Armenian Metsamor
nuclear power plant under a national program of technical cooperation
has granted six new seismic stations GURALP 6TD for improving the
telemetric seismic network, placed and operating around the power
plant, Armenian media reported citing the press service of the Armenian
Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Metsamor is one of the few remnants of the old Soviet nuclear reactors
built without primary containment structures. Only a few of these
first generation water-moderated reactors are still in use today,
being past or near their original retirement ages, but what sets the
Metsamor nuclear power plant apart from all the others is the fact
that it's located in a potentially hazardous seismic zone.
Metsamor NPP was built in 1970. After the devastating earthquake
in Spitak in 1988 it was closed, but in 1995, the operation of
the station was resumed and a second reactor was launched despite
international criticism.
The lifespan of Metsamor expired in 2010, but Armenia and IAEA experts
have agreed to continue the operation of the plant until 2016.
The nuclear power plant poses a serious threat to the security of
the entire region, especially to the neighboring countries - Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan. Therefore, the three countries demand immediate
shutdown of the plant in view of the danger.
According to environmentalists and scientists from all over the region,
seismic activity in the area renders Metsamor nuclear plant an extreme
risk even if a new generation reactor were to be built. Given the
large number of minor earthquakes in the area in the last ten years,
as well as the intensification of the seismic processes, scientists
predict that in the event of a major accident at Metsamor, not only
Armenia, but also other countries of the South Caucasus and Middle
East states would be severely affected.