The State Corporation Rosatom has confirmed plans to put the first power unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) in Turkey into commercial operation in 2026. The corresponding statement was made by the corporation's CEO, Alexey Likhachev. The construction of the plant is the largest project in the region's nuclear energy sector, which will provide Turkey with significant volumes of stable and environmentally friendly electricity.
We are not removing plans for next year - commissioning into commercial operation.
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant in the Republic of Turkey. The project involves the construction of four power units, each of which will be equipped with a modern VVER-1200 reactor with a capacity of 1200 megawatts.
The project is being implemented according to the unique Build-Own-Operate model. This means that the Russian side will not only build the plant, but will also own and operate it for a certain period, being responsible for its safe and efficient operation. This model guarantees that the plant will be serviced and operated by highly qualified specialists with many years of experience in the nuclear power industry.
The implementation of the project has faced significant difficulties. As reported earlier by representatives of both countries, the politically motivated refusal of the German concern Siemens Energy to supply already paid critical equipment delayed the commissioning of the plant by one and a half years. The head of the Turkish Ministry of Energy, Alparslan Bayraktar, noted that European partners did not supply the necessary equipment, but an alternative was found. The problem was solved by reorienting to supplies from other countries, in particular, from Chinese manufacturers.