![The lightning strike reminded of the risks associated with the operation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.](https://turan.az/resized/news/2024/mYZcnDHeWqUSnFwoniGczEjSgxcNODI9I6roMEKY-750-500-resize.webp)
The lightning strike reminded of the risks associated with the operation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.
The lightning strike reminded of the risks associated with the operation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.
On August 30, at approximately 22:55, the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant in Metsamor was disconnected from the country's power grid, as reported by the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. The shutdown was caused by a lightning strike, which triggered the plant's safety systems to switch the station to a safe shutdown mode. Currently, the plant's staff is working on restarting the facility.
The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant has long been a global concern. Azerbaijan and Türkiye have repeatedly called for the closure of this old, deteriorated nuclear station. The dangerous situation at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant should be a worry not only for the regional countries but also for the Armenian population.
In 2006, the Armenian government announced that the plant's operational life would end in 2016. In 2011, an OSART (Operational Safety Review Team) mission, under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and consisting of experts from eight countries (including the USA, the UK, France, Hungary, and Finland), conducted inspections at the Metsamor plant. The final statement concluded that operating the plant posed a significant risk.
The European Union (EU) has strongly urged the closure of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant due to its failure to meet modern international safety standards and insists that any new plant built should comply with international safety norms. The EU has also expressed willingness to allocate 220 million euros for the decommissioning of the existing plant.
In Yerevan, there are complaints that constructing a new nuclear plant would require an investment of five billion dollars.
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- Politics
- 31 August 2024 12:05
Politics
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On August 31, Azerbaijan observes a "day of silence" before the Sunday’s early parliamentary elections for the unicameral Milli Majlis. All electoral campaigning is prohibited 24 hours before the voting. The early elections were initiated by the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party. This decision was motivated by the overlap of the scheduled elections in November with the global UN forum - the COP20 climate conference taking place in Baku.
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Three international research organizations and over 10 scholars from various countries have signed a petition expressing their "deepest concern" over the arrest of Bahruz Samedov in Azerbaijan on charges of treason and are calling for his immediate release.
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The health of economist Fazil Gasimov, who is on a hunger strike for 78 days, deteriorated in a prison hospital on August 30.
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On August 30, the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fergus Old, visited the headquarters of the Musavat Party and met with the party leader, Isa Gambar. According to the party’s press service, the meeting covered several topics, including the snap parliamentary elections on September 1, the issue of political prisoners, Azerbaijan-UK relations, and other matters.
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