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 station 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 abandoning plans for next year — commissioning into commercial operation.
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant on the territory of 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 a unique Build-Own-Operate model. This means that the Russian side will not only build the station, but will also own and operate it for a certain period, being responsible for its safe and efficient operation. This model guarantees that the station will be serviced and operated by highly qualified specialists with many years of experience in the nuclear power industry.
The project implementation 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 station's commissioning by a year and a half. 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.
