“A new station installed on the Armenian-Iranian border allows recording any changes with an accuracy of seconds. Despite the tensions in the Middle East and the missile strikes on Iran, the radiation situation in Armenia remains stable.” In a conversation with Sputnik Armenia, Karen Haroyan, Chief Specialist for Radiation Safety at Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre, assured that all monitoring stations across the country conduct 24-hour surveillance. “Armenia operates a modern radiation monitoring system consisting of 32 stations. They are mainly located in settlements within a 10–12 km radius of the Armenian nuclear power plant. However, taking into account the regional situation, another station was installed on the Armenian–Iranian border in 2025.” Following Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities, reports emerged about “black” or “acid rain” falling in parts of Iran. WHO has warned that the presence of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere is extremely dangerous. Attacks on nuclear facilities could also pose a risk of nuclear radiation for Iran.
A Technical Workshop was held in Armenia within the framework of the project “Nuclear Safety Regulatory Cooperation with the Armenian Regulator,” with the participation of experts from ANRA and NRSC, as well as the Consortium led by IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U. (Spain). The workshop aimed to review the progress of the ongoing projects, present the results of completed activities, and define next steps for implementation. During the event, participants presented and discussed action plans for the transposition of selected WENRA Safety Reference Levels and key Euratom Directives into Armenia’s legislative and regulatory framework. These included the Drinking Water Directive (Euratom 2013/51), the Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive (2013/59/Euratom), and Directive (2006/117/Euratom) on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel. These approximation efforts are carried out in line with Armenia’s obligations under the EU–Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the broader objective of systematically aligning national legislation with relevant EU requirements. In addition, the Consortium conducted and presented the results of a regulatory review of safety-related documentation, including the Level 2 Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) for internal initiating events. The evaluation of seismic safety enhancement measures, the implementation of hydrogen passive autocatalytic recombiners, and the full-scope simulator were also presented and discussed in detail. The findings were reviewed jointly with ANRA and NRSC specialists, enabling in-depth technical exchange and clarification of key aspects related to safety improvements at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant. The workshop contributed to strengthening the national regulatory framework, enhancing the technical expertise and analytical capacity of ANRA and NRSC specialists, and further aligning Armenia’s nuclear and radiation safety system with European and international standards.
Specialists from Armenia’s Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center (NRSC) participated in the Nuclear Forensics Technical Exchange, held on August 20–22 at Argonne National Laboratory, in Lemont, (Illinois, the US). The international event brought together experts to discuss radioactive source registries, field data collection, and the development of National Nuclear Forensics Libraries (NNFLs). Armenia was represented by Ms. Arpi Khachatryan, Mr. Karen Haroyan, and Ms. Anahit Petoyan. During the program, Ms. Petoyan, a PhD student at NRSC, delivered a presentation titled “Towards Accurate Quantification of Non-Homogeneous Swipe Samples in Gamma Spectrometry.” Her research addressed challenges in analyzing heterogeneous contamination and proposed methods to improve measurement accuracy in nuclear forensics investigations. The program combined theoretical discussions—such as the expansion of the xARIS platform developed by NRSC and the outcomes of the ISTC cooperation project—with hands-on sessions using Argonne’s NNFL toolkit, field detection instruments, and integrated registry software. Such exchange of experience is an important step in developing nuclear forensics capabilities in Armenia, contributing to the creation of a National Nuclear Forensic Library.
NRSC specialists Satine Vardanyan and Karen Haroyan, as well as colleagues from the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Radioactive Waste Disposal CJSC, visited Sweden to explore the country’s best practices in managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. As Armenia prepares to extend the operational life of the 2nd unit of the Armenian NPP, eventually decommission the current reactor, harmonise its regulatory framework with EU directives, modernise radioactive waste infrastructure, and establish a “National operator” for radioactive waste management, studying international experience has become essential. During the meetings, the Swedish specialists presented the country’s nuclear and radioactive waste management program, legal framework, licensing and inspection procedures. Sweden has one of the most effective and transparent radioactive waste management systems in the world, operating through the combined efforts of state oversight and private sector involvement. The Armenian delegation visited key institutions, including AB Svafo and Cyclife Sweden AB in Studsvik, as well as several SKB facilities in Oskarshamn. A key element of Sweden’s model is its Nuclear Waste Fund, financed by fees from waste generators and electricity producers. Established in the 1980s, the fund guarantees long-term financial sustainability and safety. This visit offered valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, exposure to modern waste management approaches, and the initiation of future cooperation. It also laid the groundwork for a GAP analysis and a roadmap assessing and improving Armenia’s radioactive waste management infrastructure.
Although Iran’s nuclear facilities are not located near Armenia’s borders, a large-scale incident could potentially lead to the spread of radioactive substances, depending on wind patterns and the nature of the explosions. What monitoring capabilities does Armenia have? How is radiation monitored, where and how often does it take place, and what have recent measurements shown? Are there any risks for the population? These questions are addressed by Armen Amirjanyan, Director of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre; Karen Haroyan, Senior Specialist at the Radiological Laboratory; and Khachatur Khachikyan, Acting Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee of the Republic of Armenia.
