Core melt trap delivered for Turkey’s Akkuyu 1

31 August 2020


The core catcher for unit 1 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant arrived in August (Photo: Akkuyu NPP)Russia’s Akkuyu Nuclear, the project management company building Turkey’s Akkuyu NPP, said that the melt trap for unit 2 of the plant had been delivered to the construction site.

The trap, a melt localisation device, is a container in the form of a steel cone weighing 169t, which in case of an emergency will catch the reactor core. It was manufactured at Russia’s Tyazhmash JSC (part of Rosatom)  and  is scheduled for installation in November. Once installed, with the internal equipment, it will weigh 668t.

Akkuyu Nuclear general director Anastasia Zoteeva said construction at the site is in full swing. “The most active work is at unit 1: this year we plan to complete the construction of the outer walls up to more than 26.0 metres. This will be the operational mark of the central hall. Then next year we will be able to mount the reactor vessel and in August start welding the main circulation pipeline,” she said.

“Four steam generators for unit 1 have been manufactured by Rosatom’s Atommash. After they are delivered to the site, we will expect the arrival of the RPV. This autumn we will install the arrived melt trap at unit 2. Simultaneously with these works, other auxiliary facilities are being built: these are our construction and assembly bases, fuel storage facilities, and tunnels.”

Currently, construction work at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is underway at three units. All stages of construction are closely monitored by independent inspection organisations and Turkey’s regulator - the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NDK), as well as experts from the International Engineering Group Assystem.

The $20bn Akkuyu nuclear power plant will comprise four units with Russian designed VVER-1200 generation 3+ reactors. The project has been fully financed by Russia and is the first nuclear project to be implemented using a build-own-operate model under Russian management based on an intergovernmental contract signed with Russia in 2010.


The core catcher for unit 1 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant arrived in August (Credit: Akkuyu Nuclear)



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