TODAY.AZ / Politics

To please West to spite Russia: new Armenian nuclear power plant - new threats to region

19 July 2024 [15:50] - TODAY.AZ
By Abdul Kerimkhanov, Day.Az


Armenia has started substantive negotiations with the United States on the construction of a new nuclear power unit to replace the existing Metsamor nuclear power plant, which poses a threat to the entire region. 

According to experts, the construction of a new power unit using Western technologies will reduce Armenia's dependence on Russia in the energy sector, depriving Moscow of an important lever of influence on Yerevan. Considering that the same West is steadily abandoning nuclear energy, it is obvious that Armenia's decision is exclusively political in nature.

We have repeatedly written about the need to eliminate the Metsamor NPP. The Metsamor NPP is one of the most potentially dangerous nuclear facilities in the region. Despite the fact that the station was put into operation back in the 1970s, it continues to raise serious concerns about safety and environmental risks for the surrounding areas.

One of the main sources of concern is the seismic vulnerability of the Metsamor NPP. The station is located in a seismically active region where earthquakes occur regularly. The design and infrastructure of the NPP were not initially designed to withstand powerful seismic impacts, which increases the likelihood of accidents with catastrophic consequences in the event of a strong earthquake.

Another risk factor is the use of outdated technologies and equipment at the Metsamor NPP, many of which were developed back in the Soviet era. Despite the modernization carried out in recent years, the station still uses technologies that are significantly inferior to modern safety standards.

The accident at the Metsamor nuclear power plant may have serious environmental consequences for the entire region. The release of radioactive substances into the environment can lead to contamination of soils, water resources and air, which will affect the health of the population and the state of ecosystems. In addition, the plant uses large volumes of water for cooling, which can have a negative impact on local water resources.

The Metsamor NPP poses a serious threat to the region, given its seismic vulnerability, the use of outdated technologies and potential environmental consequences. It is necessary to carefully assess the risks associated with this plant and consider the possibility of its decommissioning.

What do the Armenian authorities think about this? There, a decision was made to build a new nuclear power plant, which will also pose a threat to the region. Although in the same West there is a tendency to abandon the use of nuclear energy. This process is driven by a number of factors, including concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants, growing concerns about nuclear waste, and the development of alternative energy sources.

One of the main reasons for abandoning nuclear power is concern about the safety of nuclear power plants. Major accidents, such as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, have increased public fears of nuclear power. Many people fear that even minor incidents at nuclear power plants can lead to catastrophic consequences for the environment and human health.

Another factor contributing to the abandonment of nuclear power plants is the problem of safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste. The accumulation of highly radioactive nuclear waste, which has remained dangerous for thousands of years, is of serious concern to the population. The lack of reliable solutions for the long-term disposal of these wastes exacerbates the situation.

In parallel with the abandonment of nuclear energy, Western countries are actively developing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower. The rapid decline in the cost of "green" technologies, as well as government support for this sector, make renewable sources an increasingly attractive alternative to nuclear energy.

That is, the West's refusal to use nuclear energy is due to a combination of factors related to the safety of nuclear power plants, the problem of nuclear waste, as well as the rapid development of renewable energy sources. Despite the fact that nuclear energy can play an important role in achieving climate goals, public sentiment and policy decisions tend to gradually abandon this energy source in favor of safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives.

In the case of Yerevan, the principle of "I'll freeze my ears to spite my grandmother" rather applies. In an effort to follow the fairway and please the West in everything, Armenia poses a danger to life and health, first of all, to its own citizens. Instead of completely abandoning nuclear power plants and switching to electricity production using gas or coal, the Armenian authorities went a different way, without taking into account the nuclear safety of their people and peoples living in the states of the region.
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/250901.html

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