Construction process initiated for the first nuclear reactor unit at Akkuyu power station
The construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, is making significant strides, with the commissioning process for the first unit officially commencing in mid-2025. Anton Dedusenko, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock Company and also the CEO of Rusatom Energy International, confirmed this to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
General construction of Unit 1 has been completed, and trial operations are underway. The first unit, a 1,200-megawatt nuclear power unit, is about 90% complete, with nuclear fuel loading scheduled for 2025. Preparatory work is planned this year to connect the first unit's switchyard to the electrical transmission system.
When fully operational, Akkuyu Nuclear Plant is intended to operate for at least 60 years, with a possible 20-year extension. The first reactor is expected to start producing electricity in 2025, with the remaining three reactors commissioned gradually by the end of 2028. At full power, the plant is expected to cover about 10% of Turkey's electricity demand.
While there have been some unspecified challenges during construction, the project remains on schedule. Over 30,000 workers are involved daily, reflecting the project's scale and rapid pace. Dedusenko described the start-up phase as a "very important period" for a nuclear power unit.
Meanwhile, discussions regarding additional nuclear facilities in Sinop and the northwestern Thrace region are ongoing. Technical and economic feasibility studies for Akkuyu's nuclear facilities will be presented this year, though the final decision rests with Turkey. Negotiations for the construction of a second nuclear plant in Turkey's Black Sea province of Sinop have been ongoing for several years.
Turkey's goal is to have 20,000 megawatts of installed nuclear capacity by 2050. However, Dedusenko did not provide specific details about the progress of the Sinop or Thrace nuclear projects in his statement. Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation overseeing Akkuyu, is currently negotiating to sell a 49% stake in the $25 billion project to Turkish and international investors, signaling increased investor interest as the first unit nears operation.
In summary, Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is on track to become operational in 2025 with full commissioning by 2028, playing a pivotal role in Turkey’s energy security and carbon reduction goals. Meanwhile, the second plant at Sinop is under feasibility evaluation, reflecting Turkey's broader nuclear energy ambitions.
The first sentence: The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project, currently under construction, is being funded in part by investments in both the industry and finance sectors.
The second sentence: With the success of the Akkuyu project and ongoing negotiations for a second nuclear plant in Sinop, it is expected that Turkey's energy sector will soon see significant growth in its nuclear energy capacity.
