Rosatom’s Turkish unit says it has initial permission for Akkuyu nuclear plant

ANKARA

Turkey’s atomic energy authority has granted initial permission to Russian company Rosatom’s Turkish unit to build the $20 billion Akkuyu nuclear power plant, the Ankara-based company stated on Oct. 20, Reuters reported.

“Akkuyu Nuclear JSC has secured the initial work permit, which is the first stage of construction license, from the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority [TAEK],” the company said in a statement.

The company added that it expects the full construction license to be granted in the first half of 2018.

Rosatom said last month that it aims to start work on its Akkuyu project in southern Turkey by the end of March 2018.

The TAEK had earlier said that Akkuyu Nuclear JSC had applied for a construction license of the Akkuyu NPP Unit 1 starting on March 3, 2018.

An intergovernmental agreement was signed in 2010 to build Turkey’s first nuclear power plant by Rosatom in 2010.

The first unit of the power plant is planned to become operational seven years after construction started.

“We want to start the construction of all buildings and facilities of the nuclear power plant as soon as possible. In the framework of this process, the harmonization to all national and international safety standards is one of our main duties,” the company added.

The Akkuyu power plant is slated to meet 16 percent of Turkey’s electricity demand when it is completed.

Turkey has also signed an agreement with Japan to build another nuclear power plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop.