Azerbaijani NGOs appeal to nuclear energy summit regarding Metsamor NPP

Civil society representatives of Azerbaijan sent an open letter to the co-chairs of the Nuclear Energy Summit which has today got underway in Brussels - Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi.

In a letter, representatives of civil society and scientists urged the leaders of the summit to pay attention to the global threat arising from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Armenia, which is in an emergency state, Report informs.

The letter calls to raise the issue before the government of Armenia of the immediate termination of plant’s activities.

"Built in 1976 in a 9.5-point seismic zone, Metsamor NPP works under old technologies and is designed for 8 points. It represents a major nuclear threat to Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia and the entire region. The irresponsible behavior of the Armenian authorities regarding the issue of the Metsamor NPP, their false promises, which mislead the world public, are leading the region to a catastrophe similar to what happened at the Chernobyl NPP and Fukushima," the letter says.

NGO representatives also expressed serious concern over the illegal trade in some nuclear materials from the Metsamor NPP.