In recent days, several Armenian news channels (websites) have been engaged in a smear campaign, asserting that the Azerbaijani media has "falsely" highlighted the Metsamor nuclear power plant under the guise of "propaganda for the country's politics." They claim that Armenia's nuclear power plant does not pose any threat to the region and that the allegations against it are unfounded. However, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and even Georgia have periodically asserted that this plant presents a significant threat and have repeatedly submitted resolutions to the International Atomic Energy Agency addressing their concerns. In this article, we will discover how problematic and valid the notion of posing a threat is, for Metsamor Plant.

According to EVN Report, the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant has long drawn concern due to a combination of environmental, technical, and geopolitical factors that suggest it poses a latent risk. Situated in a seismically active region, Metsamor lies near several fault lines, including the Sardarapat Fault just 12 kilometers away. While designed under Soviet-era seismic standards, the plant operates in an area with the potential for magnitude-8 earthquakes—conditions the original design guidelines discouraged for nuclear facilities.

One of the most frequently cited issues is the plant’s outdated design. The currently operating reactor, Armenia-2, lacks a primary containment structure, a standard feature in later VVER models intended to prevent radioactive leaks during emergencies. A 2016 EU-commissioned stress test found that while the plant met basic structural requirements, key secondary safety systems—such as fire control and backup power—were not seismically resistant.

Waste management also remains a major unresolved issue. Armenia stores all of its spent nuclear fuel on-site in interim facilities, without a long-term disposal plan. This means that radioactive materials are being stored in the same seismic zone as the plant, increasing the risk of contamination should a natural disaster occur. Additionally, although there’s no direct evidence linking Metsamor to radiological smuggling, several intercepted attempts in the region have involved isotopes like Strontium-90 and Cesium-137—elements known to be stored in Armenia’s facilities. Their potential use in radiological weapons, such as dirty bombs, raises broader security........

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