News - IAEA chief on Turkey request: Absolutely no plans to shut down Armenia nuclear plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is confident that Armenia’s Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) can continue operations given the important refurbishments done at the facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told Armenpress that the Metsamor NPP is following the safety recommendations and guidance from the IAEA. “The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is following the safety recommendations and guidance from the IAEA. This is very important. There have been important refurbishments done at the facility which were found to be indispensable, so we can continue operating, there will be an extension of the licensing of the plant for a few more years and we are satisfied with the way in which they have been implemented,” Grossi said. Asked on Turkey’s latest request seeking to shut down Metsamor alleging that the facility is unsafe, Grossi said that the IAEA has absolutely no plans to close the Armenian NPP and that operations can continue. The IAEA chief mentioned that countries having “certain issues” with their neighbors around the world tend to file such complaints to the IAEA. “Well, we listen to everybody. The IAEA is a global organization, so we listen to everybody. And when it comes to this kind of concerns, we explain what we are doing, we give the assurances that everything is being done correctly. I would tell you, it’s not the only case, in some other parts of the world where neighbors have certain issues, countries come to me and say 'what is happening in my neighbor,' so we take it seriously but we give the answers, the most important thing is that Armenia continues to work seriously with us and reinforces the safety of the facility and we are very confident,” Grossi said when asked on Turkey’s allegations about the Armenian NPP. And asked whether the IAEA plans to close down the Armenian NPP, Rafael Grossi said, “No, absolutely not. If there is an issue with the plant we will address it immediately with the government, and we would be the first to say that there is a problem and that some action would need to be taken. But at the moment, as I say, we are confident that operations can continue.”