Monday, August 13, 2007, #153 (1420)

Turkish NGOs demand closure of Armenian nuclear power station

Representatives of NGOs in Turkey gathered in the Turkish town of Igdir to demand the closure of the Armenian Metsamor nuclear power plant, the news agency Regnum reports.

The event was staged to highlight an alleged public health threat from the power station. It was stated that an industrial accident or leakage of radioactive substance from the plant could contaminate the entire region.

Metsamor is 16 kilometers from the Turkish border. Despite frequent media assertions that radioactive leakage is a threat to the local populations, official information provides analysis showing a safe level of the radiation.

Armenia is planning to close the power plant soon at the demand of the EU. However, Metsamor provides as much as 40 percent of Armenia's domestic energy and negotiations are underway with Russia to build a replacement facility.


© The Messenger. All rights reserved. Please read our disclaimer before using any of the published materials.