UPDATE: Ankara wants to build Russian–Turkish Akkuyu nuke plant

(Adds details in last two paragraphs)

MOSCOW, Aug 5 (PRIME) -- Ankara is interested in building a U.S. $20 billion Turkish–Russian Akkuyu nuclear power plant, Turkey’s ambassador Umit Yardim told PRIME on Friday.

“The power sector is one of the most important fields for our countries, including exports of Russian natural gas, and to a lesser extent – oil exports,” he said.

“As for the Akkuyu project – we are very happy to implement it and work continues. From the point of view of the Turkish energy policy, development of atomic power generation is very important and we will keep on moving decisively towards the implementation of this project.”

Russia and Turkey are continuing negotiations on legal and financial issues connected with the Akkuyu plant, Yardim said.

In July, Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Ankara will make every effort to implement the project.

Russia and Turkey signed an agreement on construction and operation of the Akkuyu plant in 2010. The project encompasses construction of four 1,200-megawatt VVER reactor. Russia will hold 51% in the project and 49% can be held by foreign investors or international lenders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in St. Petersburg on August 9. Yardim said the presidents will discuss construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and other energy issues.

The Turkish Stream project envisages construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea, but the countries failed to sign an agreement on it.

Yury Ushakov, aide to Putin, said that the two presidents will discuss operation of Turkish construction companies in Russia besides the Akkuyu plant and the Turkish Stream at their meeting, as well as other economic issues and joint projects. Putin and Erdogan will also consider restart of exports of Turkish fruit and vegetables to Russia and restoration of Russia’s charter flights to Turkey.

The presidents will hold a meeting with representatives of business circles of the two countries, and may even reach an agreement to carry out a meeting of the cooperation council of the highest level later in 2017, Ushakov said.

End