Turkey to become a ‘net energy exporter’

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Turkish Energy Minister Yıldız elaborates the details of the second nuclear power plant. AA photo

Turkey may become a net energy exporter in the Middle East in the medium term, specifically in light of failures to provide energy in the region due to security concerns.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız spoke to the press yesterday for the first time after the intergovernmental agreement for the Turkey’s second nuclear plant was signed between Turkey and Japan May 3.

“164 new nuclear plants have been planned to be built in the world by 2030. The share of nuclear power is more than 20 percent in 15 countries and the share of nuclear energy will be 17 percent in Turkey by 2023. Seven of the 30 countries that have nuclear power are net energy exporters. Turkey is becoming an energy exporter in its region,” Yıldız said, adding that the lack of energy supplies for Turkey is no longer on the agenda thanks to the nuclear plants set to be built.

Yıldız noted that the share of Japan in the second nuclear plant would not exceed 51 percent, reserving 49 percent for Turkey. “France will get some share from Japan’s stake. Our plan A is for the share of the Turkish Electricity Generation Corporation (EÜAŞ) to be 49 percent, and plan B is for EÜAŞ to have maximum 25 percent. We are working on both. The Turkish private sector will also take a share.”

The power to be generated at the Sinop nuclear plant, which will be built by a Japanese-French alliance led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and French firm Areva with a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts, will be sold at around 11.80 [U.S.] cents per kWh (plus fuel). “Another option is to set price at 10.80 cents/kWh – fuel excluded. If we can find cheaper fuel, we will choose this option,” Yıldız said. Turkey inked a deal to build its first nuclear plant with Russia in the Mediterranean province of Mersin in 2010, at which the power price was set at 12.35 cents/kWh. Turkey is planning to have three nuclear plants in total by 2023.