International nuclear safety experts advised earthquake-prone Armenia on Thursday to increase safety measures at the country's Soviet-era reactor after the disaster in Japan.

But the experts from the International Atomic Energy Authority's Operational Safety Team did not identify any "extraordinary" problems during their inspection of the reactor, which is located in a seismic zone that was hit by a massive quake in 1988.

"During our work we did not see anything extraordinary. We made 16 recommendations and 14 suggestions for improving operational safety," the head of the inspection team Gabor Antal Vamos told a news conference in Yerevan.

He said that the team had made similar findings at nuclear plants in other countries.

The Armenian energy ministry said that $25 million (17 million euros) would be invested in raising safety levels over the next two years, adding to the $130 million (90 million euros) already invested in safety measures since 2005.

A stress test is due to be conducted later this year at the Metsamor plant, which stands only 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the capital and close to the border with Turkey.

Armenian officials insist that the ageing reactor is not at risk in the event of another earthquake despite concerns raised by local environmentalists.

The plant was closed for five years after the 1988 quake until energy shortages caused the authorities to reopen it, despite objections from Europe and the United States.

Officials say the landlocked and resource-poor country has no alternative because it relies on the plant for around 40 percent of its electricity needs.

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