2024-08-21 11:25:33
In 2021, Armenia celebrates the 55th anniversary of the atomic sector. 1966 On September 17, the Council of Ministers of the USSR made a decision on the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the South Caucasus, the NPP. It became the starting point of the history of the atomic sphere of the country.
A nuclear power plant in Armenia is not only energy independence, but also a potential for technology development. The nuclear power plant promotes the development of science and education in the nuclear field, which means the birth of innovative ideas and their implementation. One of the most important areas of application of atomic technologies in the modern world is nuclear medicine. Natalia Shengelia de Lange, head of the European Center of Nuclear Medicine of Armenia, believes that the traditions of the atomic sphere of Armenia, which are already 55 years old, contribute to the active development of medicine.
In recent years, this direction has been actively developing in Armenia. the radioisotope production center was launched, positron emission tomography (PET – CT) was performed for the first time in Armenia, which is one of the main methods of diagnosing malignant tumors.
Also, the European Center of Nuclear Medicine was opened on the base of the “Erebuni” Medical Center, which is equipped taking into account the requirements of nuclear safety and meets all the norms of the IAEA and the state control of Armenia. The center uses isotopes to diagnose oncological diseases and started using radioactive iodine for the treatment of thyroid gland cancer, which is the second most common in the South Caucasus.
“80 percent of our patients are people with oncological diseases,” says Natalia Shengelia de Lange, head of the European Center for Nuclear Medicine.
“During the activity of our center, 300 people have already received treatment. It is very important for us that at this stage, such a big problem as thyroid cancer can be solved without leaving the country. In the future, we plan to introduce isotope treatment and start the process of treating other complex diseases, thus raising the level of nuclear medicine in Armenia,” the expert notes.
Considering the peculiarities of this direction of medicine, specially trained nuclear physicists work together with doctors. The center emphasizes the high level of training of Armenian specialists. Today, the specialists who appeared in our country thanks to the Armenian NPP find themselves not only in the energy sector, but also in medicine.
“The traditions of the nuclear field in Armenia are very important for us, because not only doctors are in demand in our center. Much attention is paid to physicists who work with radioactive materials. Thanks to the presence of specialized universities in the country, there is a staff capable of working at a high level with nuclear technologies in various spheres of life,” says Natalya Shengelia de Lange.
It will be possible to learn about nuclear medicine and the use of nuclear technologies in modern life during the evening of atomic technologies, which is organized by the state corporation “Rosatom” in cooperation with the Byurakan Observatory named after V. Hambardzumyan of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. On July 30, young scientists invited from Russia and Belarus will tell how the atom helps in agriculture, food industry, space exploration, processing and production of composite materials and even saving animals. You can find more detailed information about the event on the page of Rosatom’s Look around Armenia educational project.
The 55th anniversary of the Armenian industry
In 2021, Armenia will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the atomic sector. 1966 September 17 became the starting point of the history of the atomic sphere of the country. On the initiative of the Government of the Armenian SSR, together with the Council of Ministers of the USSR, a decision was made on the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Armenia. The entire normative base was created from scratch. The Armenian NPP project was a unique technological solution of Soviet atomic scientists. This was the first nuclear power plant for regions with high seismicity. Today, stations in earthquake-prone regions of the world are being built according to its example. Power unit #1 of the Armenian NPP was put into operation on December 25, 1976, and power units #2-5 on January 5, 1980. Today, the ANPP produces more than a third of the country’s electricity, ensuring Armenia’s energy security and independence.
Armenia’s atomic sector has developed thanks to the country’s scientific centers and branch enterprises. Energy Research Institute, State Committee for Nuclear Safety Regulation under the Government of Armenia, Armenian Research Institute for NPP Operation, National Polytechnic University of Armenia, etc.
The atomic sphere is not limited to energy and has allowed to apply technologies in such fields as medicine, space, agriculture. In particular, nuclear medicine is actively developing in Armenia. In the last few years, isotope development has started in the country, and the first positron emission tomography was conducted for the first time. National scientific laboratory, A. Alikhanyan (YerFI) National Oncology Center, V. A. Fanarjyan Radioactive Isotope Center, Yerevan Nuclear Medicine Center.