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A number of representatives of pro-government NGOs in Azerbaijan addressed an open letter to the co-chairs of the inaugural Nuclear Energy Summit held in Brussels, drawing their attention to the “global threat” allegedly coming from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.
“The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant … operates using outdated technology and is designed to withstand an earthquake of 8 points in magnitude, poses a huge nuclear threat to Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Armenia and the region as a whole,” the statement of the pro-government NGOs reads.
The Fact Investigation Platform studied the statements and expert assessments of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the Armenian nuclear power plant.
Thus, in 2021, the IAEA team of experts concluded the long-term operational safety review of the Armenian nuclear power plant, according to which the Armenian side “completed an extensive modernization and safety improvement programme this year, including replacement of large number of components of emergency systems; modernization of emergency systems and the control and monitoring systems,” and so on.
“The team observed that the ANPP improved preparedness for safe LTO,” said Team Leader.
On October 4-5, 2022, the delegation led by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Armenia. Mr. Grossi also toured the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA Director General was pleased to note that following his previous visit to the plant a comprehensive large-scale work had been implemented, which would “certainly ensure the safe and reliable operation of the plant in future.”
“Today I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes the tremendous work that was performed at the Metsamor NPP, and I made sure that you really deserved the support that the IAEA provided. Keep working with the same spirit, and we, in turn, will do our best to support you,” the Director General concluded.
Later, in an interview with “Armenpress”, addressing the calls from Turkey to close the nuclear power plant, Grossi clearly stated that the IAEA has absolutely no plans to close the Armenian NPP, and that “Armenia continues to work seriously with the IAEA and reinforces the safety of the facility and the IAEA is very confident in the matter.“
“No, absolutely not. If there is an issue with the plant we will address it immediately with the government, and we would be the first to say that there is a problem and that some action would need to be taken. But at the moment, as I say, we are confident that operations can continue,” IAEA Director General noted.
Thus, the concerns of NGOs coordinated by the Azerbaijani government regarding the Armenian nuclear power plant are not confirmed either by the assessments of teams of experts of the IAEA, or in the public statements of the management of the Agency.
It should also be reminded that in July 2020, the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan threatened to launch a missile attack on the NPP.
“The Armenian side should not forget that Azerbaijan’s most modern missile systems allow hitting the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant with high accuracy, which could lead to a major disaster for Armenia,” said Vagif Dargahli, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.
The Armenian side expressed concern regarding the threat of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan to launch a missile strike on the nuclear power plant. Grossi also referred to those statements later in Yerevan, noting that “nuclear security should never be put at risk because of the confrontation”.
Nane Manasyan
