Putin: Russia, Turkey seek to launch Akkuyu 1st unit in 2023

ANKARA, Apr 3 (PRIME) -- Russia and Turkey will do everything to launch the first unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in 2023, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday at a ceremony to start construction of the facility.

The Akkuyu plant will become a basis for creation of the nuclear power industry in Turkey, Putin said.

“The importance of this large-scale innovative project is hard to overestimate. In fact, today we are not just present at the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, but creating a basis for Turkey in the nuclear power industry on the whole. We are starting creation of a new industry,” he said.

Construction of the plant will be held in accordance with the highest safety standards and environmental requirements, Putin added.

“Russia is one of the recognized leaders in the peaceful nuclear sphere. The most advanced engineering solutions, economically efficient and reliable technologies will be applied during the plant construction. Such technologies that we apply for ourselves in Russia. The highest safety standards and the strictest environmental requirements will be complied with,” he said.

“Russian partners plan to actively attract Turkish small and medium businesses to the construction, intend to place a significant part of orders necessary for the future plant in Turkey,” he added.

Nuclear power corporation Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachyov said over 350 Turkish companies have already expressed readiness to take part in the plant construction.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Akkuyu plant is expected to cover 10% of Turkey’s power demand and will ensure the country’s energy security.

The Akkuyu plant will comprise four units with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts each. Russian investment will amount to U.S. $22 billion. Turkey expects to launch the first unit in 2023 and to start its commercial use in May 2024. The launch of the second unit for commercial use is expected in May 2025.

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