Regional concern over Armenian nuclear power station

A number of countries around the world have started to re-evaluate their approach towards the construction of nuclear power stations on their territory and in their vicinity. India, Germany, Switzerland and others have already started freezing their nuclear power programs at least for the time being; extra expert research is also being carried out. In the South Caucasus region the public is rather concerned about the condition of the soviet built nuclear power station in Armenia. Following the disastrous earthquake in 1988 the nuclear power station was closed temporarily, with a plan for it to be completely shut down. However in the 1990s as a result of the energy crisis Armenia’s leadership opted to reconstruct the nuclear power station for it to start operating again. Now there are plans to construct another nuclear power station in Armenia but in the meantime, the old one is still functioning. Turkish people living in the region adjacent to the power station have expressed their deep concern about it, claiming that it is similar to the one at Chernobyl which malfunctioned in 1985.Not only is the Armenian power station old fashioned, it was probably damaged during the 1988 Armenian earthquake.

Georgian analysts are also expressing their concern pointing out that lifespan of the old Armenian nuclear power station expired long ago. It was built in 1976 and it could work until 2016; however there are no secure guarantees of how safe it works or whether it can withstand possible earthquakes or other technical problems.