Outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is a threat of radioactive contamination for Turkey, the Minister of Environment and Forests of Turkey Veysel Eroglu said, website of CNN Turk reported.
The Metsamor nuclear power plant , which began its work in 1976 , is located in a seismically active area approximately 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. After the devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988, the Armenian authorities decided to close the Metsamor NPP, but economic straits forced the country's leadership to restore the plant’s activity in 1993.
Answering the question about how to secure the construction of nuclear power plants in Turkey, which is located in a seismically active zone, the Minister replied that even if the country does not build nuclear power plants, Turkey is not free from the danger of radioactive contamination.
"There is an outdated nuclear power plant in Armenia in 26 kilometers from the border with Turkey. So the risk is still present. During the construction of nuclear power plant, it is important to choose a suitable place for this, use advanced technologies, taking into account the risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and other calamities," Eroglu said.
During a press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday Turkey will not call off its plans to build nuclear power plants despite the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan.
"I have already said that the earthquakes are possible anywhere, and our country is located in a seismic area. We take the necessary measures to ensure that those facilities that we are building would be the most safe," he said.
Erdogan added that "during the construction of nuclear power plant, we will also take the necessary measures so that these facilities withstand 8 to 9 point earthquake".
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