(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 17 OCT - According to the most updated seismic and tectonic history of the site of Krsko, "the strongest earthquake that can occur in a radius of approximately 20 km" from the nuclear power plant "would have magnitude M of approximately 7," the Italian geologist Livio Sirovich told ANSA. The value was the result of a 2012 study of researchers of the National Institute of Italy for Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), coordinated by Sirovich. After being initially rejected, "the maximum magnitude M 7 was also adopted by US consultants" involved in studies about a second nuclear reactor in Krsko "as the worst possible earthquake in the region," Sirovich said during an interview with ANSA. "When the nuclear power plant was designed, no probabilistic study of seismic hazard of the site was performed," the geologist added, noting that "not even an updated study on the 1917 earthquake had been carried out" at the time. According to the current knowledge, in 1917 a damaging earthquake occurred in the proximity of the current plant. Estimates from 1982 spoke of a M 5.7 Richter, revalued to 6.2 in 2012 by two European experts. According to Sirovich, the idea of a second nuclear reactor at Krsko is "not wise". The EU should rather help Slovenia "to dismantle the existing power plant, because it suffers from excessive seismic risk." (ANSA).