France’s Assystem has been selected to oversee the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, as part of a major international engineering deal at the end of a tender process conducted in compliance with the Unified Industry Procurement Standard of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
Akkuyu Nükleer Anonim Sirketi, part of Rosatom, awarded Assystem the new six-year contract, which is a continuation of its current role at Akkuyu - supervising the construction of facilities important to the nuclear safety in accordance with the “Regulation on Construction Inspection of NPPs”, that entered into force following its publication in the Official Gazette in March 2017 by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Turkey.
The contract will run until August 2026 and will involve the delivery of independent construction inspection of objects important for nuclear safety, with construction starting in 2020-2021. Collaboration between Assystem and Rosatom follows successful cooperation at Akkuyu since 2011 where Assystem, through its Turkish subsidiary Assystem Envy (acquired in 2016), has delivered site parameters monitoring programme. This includes initial and design stage site surveys, detailed hydrogeological surveys and site inspection and safety.
Christian Jeanneau, Assystem’s senior vice president of Nuclear said the company was happy to continue its supervisory role. “Akkuyu is central to the energy transition in Turkey, delivering a supply of low carbon energy to the network to meet the needs of its dynamic and growing economy as well as creating jobs. Thanks to this new contract, Assystem will recruit a number of Turkish engineers and cultivate their skills in relation to nuclear engineering, thus building a knowledge base in Turkey that will serve the country for years to come.”
Assystem said it is also supporting Rosatom with engineering services delivered to the Hanhikivi NPP project in Finland and has experienced teams, with expert knowledge of VVER technology and the international nuclear regulatory framework, who are committed to supporting Rosatom’s international programme of nuclear investment.
Photo: Akkuyu nuclear power plant site (Credit; Assystem)
