Rosatom Director Alexey Likhachev and Türkiye’s Minister of Energy & Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, discussed joint nuclear projects at a working meeting in Istanbul. These included the four-unit Akkuyu NPP being built by Rosatom in Mersin province as well as the possible construction of a second NPP.
“Regarding the current status of the Akkuyu NPP, the main efforts are focused on preparing for start-up of unit 1. We are conducting full-scale commissioning and at the current stage we are preparing the reactor unit for loading with fuel simulators,” Likhachev noted. “We understand how important it is for the Turkish side to supply the first nuclear electricity to the Turkish energy system as soon as possible,”
Bayraktar confirmed discussions about the current status of work at Akkuyu and the roadmap for commissioning unit 1. “We are working intensively to put the first power unit into operation as soon as possible. At the same time, the construction of three other power units continues. When all the power units of the Akkuyu NPP are put into operation, the station will provide 10% of Türkiye’s electricity demand.”
Discussions also included the possible implementation by Rosatom of a project for the construction of a second NPP at Sinop. Rosatom said possible design solutions would be based on the wishes of the Turkish side to strengthen the effect of the project on the Turkish economy.
Akkuyu NPP will eventually host four Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors. The pouring of first concrete for unit 1 took place in April 2018, for unit 2 in June 2020, for unit 3 in March 2021, and for unit 4 in July 2022. Rosatom is constructing the reactors according to a build-own-operate model. Unit 1 is expected to begin operation in 2025.
