Türkiye Nükleer Enerji Anonim Şirketi (TÜNAŞ), the entity responsible for developing nuclear power plants in Türkiye, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Canada-based Candu Energy, a subsidiary of the AtkinsRéalis Group (formerly SNC-Lavalin). The agreement aims to conduct a detailed feasibility assessment on the potential deployment of CANDU reactor technology for Türkiye’s future nuclear power plants, most likely at the Sinop or Thrace sites.
The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the Canadian Association of Mining Researchers and Developers (PDAC) Congress by Turkish Minister of Energy & Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, and Canadian Minister of Energy & Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson. During his visit to Toronto, Bayraktar’s energy agenda centred on nuclear energy, critical minerals, and LNG infrastructure. Discussions with Ontario and Alberta energy ministers also covered small modular reactors (SMRs) and technical expertise exchange.
“We attach great importance to the potential of joint work between the two countries to diversify our energy basket and increase the capacity of nuclear energy,” Bayraktar said at the signing ceremony. “I believe we have entered a new era in Türkiye-Canada relations. Due to geopolitical developments around the world, particularly in North America and elsewhere, we are now in a period where there is a greater need for different collaborations and alliances.”
Pointing out that there is a major trade war going on in the world, Bayraktar said that Türkiye-Canada relations are now a little more meaningful, adding: “Canada is now also looking for new partnerships.” He emphasised the struggle to make Türkiye independent in the energy sector, stating that this effort is now better understood, noting: “Our collaborations with Canada are important. It is one of the countries that makes the most of its underground resources.”
After the signing ceremony, Bayraktar said on his social media accounts: “One of the most strategic topics of this agreement is a detailed evaluation of the applicability of Canada’s CANDU reactor technology in our country, which is one of the advanced technologies that has proven its reliability in the world.”
As part of his contacts in Toronto, Minister Bayraktar also attended an iftar programme organised by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), followed by a Canada-Türkiye Business Reception hosted by Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK – Dış Ekonomik İlişkiler Kurulu) and THY (Türk Hava Yolları – Turkish Airlines).
In his speech there, Bayraktar stressed the importance of cooperation between Türkiye and Canada. “We attach the utmost importance to Türkiye-Canada relations and want to take these relations to the next level,” he said. “There are many things we can do together in the fields of energy, mining, and defence industry. We want to include nuclear energy in our energy mix. Nuclear energy is one of the main items on the agenda of our visit here. Furthermore, Canada is a mining country. Currently, many Canadian companies are investing in Türkiye. We want to see more cooperation between local Turkish companies and Canadian companies.”
The 4,800 MWe Akkuyu plant being built by Rosatom in the southern Mersin province, is Türkiye’s first NPP. It comprises four VVER-1200 reactors, being constructed under a build-own-operate model. Construction of the units began between 2018 and 2023, and scheduled for operation by the end of 2028. The plant is expected to meet about 10% of Turkey’s electricity needs.
In March 2024, Bayraktar said Türkiye was in discussions with Russia and South Korea about a planned second NPP at Sinop, and with China about plans for a third plant in the Thrace region. Türkiye is also developing plans for 5 GWe of SMR capacity by 2050.
There are currently 31 CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) reactors in operation around the world, including in South Korea, Romania and China, as well as 17 in Canada. AtkinsRéalis is developing the 1,000 MW CANDU Monark, a Generation III+ reactor with the highest output of any CANDU technology, which completed the conceptual design phase in September 2024 and is in the planning stage of a vendor design review with the Canadian nuclear regulator.
CANDU reactors offer several strategic and technical advantages including the ability to use natural uranium as fuel. This eliminates the need for expensive and politically sensitive domestic enrichment facilities or reliance on a small number of global enrichment suppliers. Because fuel fabrication for CANDU reactors is relatively simple, Türkiye could potentially manufacture its own fuel locally using domestic uranium reserves, fostering greater self-reliance. CANDUs can also be refuelled while running at full power, eliminating the need for refuelling outages. They could also potentially use thorium as fuel, a resource that Türkiye possesses in significant quantities. They can run on “recovered uranium” from the used fuel of other reactors, such as the VVER units at Akkuyu.
