Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant construction project is being implemented with support and under constant supervision of the Republic’s energy industry executives.
September 9, 2024 – Büyükeceli, Mersin Province, Türkiye. A delegation of Türkiye’s energy industry executives headed by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar has visited the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant construction site. The delegation also comprised Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Zafer Demircan, Second Chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Türkiye Ismail Hakki Arikan, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Nuclear Energy and International Projects Director General Yusuf Ceylan as well as heads of other nuclear energy authorities. Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Board of Directors Chairperson Anton Dedusenko and Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Chief Executive Officer Sergei Butckikh hosted the delegation at the site. While examining the site with the Turkish party representatives they elaborated on the progress of start-up-and-adjustment works on Unit 1, as well as construction and installation works at other Akkuyu NPP facilities.
During the visit Minister Alparslan Bayraktar conducted an expanded meeting with the project stakeholders and discussed the key issues related to construction and operation of power units.
The delegation examined Unit 1reactor compartment, where pre-start-up adjustment works are actively performed. The Minister also visited the observation site that provides a panoramic view of the power units under construction.
“We have received all required information on the works related to the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Project, which will usher in a new generation of the Turkish energy industry. This is currently the world’s largest nuclear construction project, where more than 34 000 employees are employed, and works are performed in a very active manner. Full-scale start-up-and-adjustment works continue at Unit 1. At Units 2, 3, and 4, which are scheduled to be commissioned in one-year intervals following the start-up of Unit 1, works are performed on a routine basis”, Mr. Bayraktar noted.
“The Akkuyu NPP Project is a close partnership between Türkiye and Russia in the field of nuclear energy technologies for many years to come, since the life cycle of a modern NPP exceeds 100 years. Turkish specialists have been and will be working with their Russian colleagues as a single team at all stages of the project. We are currently undergoing the final stage of preparation for the start of operation of Unit 1, and this stage requires maximum engagement of all stakeholders, since our main priority is reliability and safety of operation of the nuclear power plant”, Mr. Dedusenko emphasized in follow-up of the visit.
For reference:
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant being built in the Republic of Türkiye. The Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ VVER reactors of Russian design. The capacity of each power unit will be 1200 MW. Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate model.
Russia continues to maintain a constructive dialog with its foreign colleagues, developing mutually beneficial cooperation. The implementation of major foreign energy projects also continues. Rosatom and its entities take an active part in this work.