Metsamor , Armenia , among the most dangerous nuclear plants still in operation as it is present in highly earthquake prone region of Ararat valley in close proximity to the populous capital of Armenia.
Its a old fashioned WER440 type, a Soviet-era nuclear power plant , sitting on an earthquake fault line in the
Ararat valley outside the Armenian capital Yeravan.
"There are five earthquake tectonic breaks [near the plant] -- one is 34 kilometers [away], another is 16 kilometers away, and one is at a distance of only 500 meters," explains Hakob Sanasarian, chairman of Yerevan's Greens' Union environmental group."
This plant with its old fashioned safety measures is highly unlikely to withstand an earthquake of the magnitude of Japan. The plant's light-water reactor is classified as one of the "oldest and least reliable" by the EU, also the plant is not protected against radioactive leaks.
Following the 1988 earthquake of 6.9 magnitude with epicenter, 75 kilometers from Metsamor, the plant was shut down.The increasing demand for power has led to its re-functioning , at present Metsamor, supplies 40 percent of Armenia's nuclear power.
The European Union, living in close proximity to the old Soviet plants, shut down Four VVER 440 units in Bulgaria and two in Slovakia were closed as a condition of those countries joining the EU, but it failed to do so in case of Armenia.
Nevertheless it has provided aid for improving its safety and other renewable energy projects.
Its a old fashioned WER440 type, a Soviet-era nuclear power plant , sitting on an earthquake fault line in the
Ararat valley outside the Armenian capital Yeravan.
"There are five earthquake tectonic breaks [near the plant] -- one is 34 kilometers [away], another is 16 kilometers away, and one is at a distance of only 500 meters," explains Hakob Sanasarian, chairman of Yerevan's Greens' Union environmental group."
This plant with its old fashioned safety measures is highly unlikely to withstand an earthquake of the magnitude of Japan. The plant's light-water reactor is classified as one of the "oldest and least reliable" by the EU, also the plant is not protected against radioactive leaks.
Following the 1988 earthquake of 6.9 magnitude with epicenter, 75 kilometers from Metsamor, the plant was shut down.The increasing demand for power has led to its re-functioning , at present Metsamor, supplies 40 percent of Armenia's nuclear power.
The European Union, living in close proximity to the old Soviet plants, shut down Four VVER 440 units in Bulgaria and two in Slovakia were closed as a condition of those countries joining the EU, but it failed to do so in case of Armenia.
Nevertheless it has provided aid for improving its safety and other renewable energy projects.
No comments:
Post a Comment