Turkish energy minister calls for environmentalist groups to protest Armenian nuclear plant

He noted that nuclear energy is one of the most significant and safer energy resources in the world, adding that it is unthinkable for Turkey to quit its nuclear power investments. 

“Some circles have been opposed to nuclear energy…If they have well-intentioned environmental concerns, they can turn their faces to the Mersamor Plant in Armenia, just 10-20 km away from the Turkish border, which creates a serious threat for the world. I am saying to them: ‘If you spend your energy to protest the power plant in Armenia, you will serve to your country more.’ This technology, aged 40 years or older, creates huge risks for Armenia, for us, actually for the whole world,” he said on April 29. 

He also said there are huge regional differences in Turkey’s power generation and consumption, vowing to increase electricity production in the Marmara region.

“While the Marmara region consumes some 35 percent of the total output, it cannot produce that much energy and the electricity produced in Anatolia is transmitted to the region. We have been developing a country-wide project in a bid to close regional differences in electricity supply and demand,” he said. 

Albayrak also noted that they will increase production through a number new investments in local and coal reserves.