Armenian Nuclear Power Plant explosion: A Soviet-era nuclear power plant, which is located in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions, is being called a "ticking time bomb" and a potential "Chernobyl in waiting" by experts, because they have raised concerns about its safety, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Where Is the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant Located?

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, which is located near the town of Metsamor and is 22 miles from Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, at present supplies about 40% of the country’s electricity, according to the Daily Mail report. Built in 1976 using Soviet-era technology, it has long been seen as controversial due to its location directly within a seismic zone, as per the Daily Mail report.

Experts Warn the Metsamor Nuclear Plant Could Become Another Chernobyl

Author Peter Marko Tase, who is an expert on the Southern Caucasus region, pointed out that "Chernobyl in waiting" "is a fact," as quoted in the report. He explained that, "Due to Armenia's lack of economic resources and the reactor's precarious structure, we can ascertain that such a nuclear reactor is an explosive that could go off at any moment," as quoted in the report. He emphasised that "it would have similar effects to the Chernobyl meltdown," as quoted by the Daily Mail.

Tase also pointed out that, "Soil contamination, water quality degradation, and massive air pollution will be looming over the skies of Europe for at least a decade, in the tragic case of a meltdown," as quoted in the report.

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Earthquake Risk: Why Metsamor’s Location Raises Red Flags

He highlighted that, "The plant is located in a region with high seismic activity. Its precarious operational activity represents a high risk of nuclear contamination. It is Europe's largest radioactive powerhouse in the event of an explosion," as quoted by the Daily Mail.

The plant has a troubled history; after the deadly Spitak Earthquake in 1988, the facility was shut down for six years, only to resume operations in 1995, despite growing international concern, reported the Daily Mail.

Tase pointed out that, "During the second half of 1980s, the Soviet Union regime decided to shut down this facility, but unfortunately this decision was never implemented. It represents an imminent danger for Europe and Southern Caucasus nations," as quoted in the report.

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Experts Say Armenia’s Nuclear Plant Is a Ticking Time Bomb

Warnings came even before the plan reopened; as per an archived Washington Post article from 1995, Viktoria Ter-Nikogossian, an adviser to the Armenian parliament’s environmental committee, had called the reopening "very, very scary," as per the Daily Mail report. She had pointed out at that time, "This nuclear plant can never be safe to run, and an accident would mean the end of Armenia," as quoted by the Daily Mail report.

The Washington Post article also quoted Morris Rosen of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who had said at that time the plant's design was "clearly deficient," adding, "You would never build a plant in that area, that's for sure, with what's known now," as quoted by the Daily Mail.

Calls Grow for EU and US Action to Prevent a Nuclear Disaster

Meanwhile, Tase, who had authored hundreds of articles about the region and studied it for 15 years, has urged that it's time for the US and Europe to step in, as reported by The Daily Mail.

He said, "The EU and the US must take immediate actions to secure the reactor's physical structure, and work diligently to shut down this ticking nuclear time bomb in a timely manner," adding, "Metsamor might be the most serious threat to global security and stability, and key players must act now," as quoted by the Daily Mail.

FAQs

Is the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant still operational?
Yes, but only one of its original two reactors is currently active, as per the Daily Mail report.

Could it really be another Chernobyl?
Experts have pointed out that due to the reactor's precarious structure, the nuclear reactor is an explosive that could go off at any moment, similar in scale to Chernobyl, as per the Daily Mail report.