The Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) Council on 29 October agreed on a decision to issue a licence to Akkuyu Nuclear (part of Rosatom) for the construction of unit 4 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The licence permits the start of construction and installation work at the unit, including nuclear safety facilities.
The licence application package was sent to NDK in May 2020. As part of the application, Akkuyu Nuclear submitted a preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR), a probabilistic safety analysis (PSA) of the Akkuyu NPP, as well as a number of other documents confirming the safety and reliability of the power unit. Based on the results of studying the application documentation, the NDK Council agreed to issue the licence.
“Obtaining a license for the construction of the 4th power unit is an important stage in the life of our project,” said Akkuyu Nuclear director general Anastasia Zoteeva. “First, I would like to sincerely thank both Turkish and Russian colleagues who were involved in obtaining this important document. With the receipt of the licence for the construction of the fourth power unit, we have completed the licensing process for the construction of our four-unit nuclear power plant We have confirmed the safety, full-scale study, validity and uniqueness of our project with the participation of our Turkish colleagues from the Nuclear Regulatory Agency. We are now ready to start work on all four power units. At the beginning of next year, we will begin to construct the foundation slab of the nuclear island buildings.”
A limited construction permit was issued on 30 June, which allowed preparatory works to be carried out including engineering surveys and excavation. By the end of 2021, the foundation slabs of the reactor and turbine buildings are expected to be concreted and reinforced.
The licensing process for Turkey's first nuclear power plant involves obtaining about 120 different licences and permits from various government departments. To date, key licences and permits have already been issued – a positive conclusion on the EIA (environmental impact assessment report), a licence for electricity generation, licences for the construction of units 1-4, and permission to operate the cargo terminal Oriental. In future, NDK will consider applications for licences to start commissioning, fuel loading, commissioning and personnel accreditation for each of the four units.
Today, the construction site of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is one of the largest nuclear construction projects in the world. More than 13,000 people work on the NPP construction site every day, more than 1000 pieces of construction equipment and vehicles are involved, including over 70 construction cranes. All work on the site is carried out in close coordination and under the close supervision of Turkish government agencies and independent inspection organisations.
Photo: Akkuyu nuclear power plant construction site (photo credit: Akkuyu Nuclear)