Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave the start of the pouring of the "first concrete" for the third unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey, marking the actual start of construction of the unit.
The Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Mersin province on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea is being built by Rosatom State Corporation. Putin took part in the ceremony marking the start of construction of the third unit of the Akkuyu NPP via video-conferencing.
The Russian leader said that Rosatom uses the most advanced and reliable technologies during the construction of the Akkuyu NPP. "Rosatom, as a recognized leader in the field of the peaceful atom, applies the most advanced engineering solutions, cost-effective and reliable technologies during the construction of the plant, while observing the highest safety standards and the strictest environmental requirements," Putin said.
The Russian President expressed confidence that successful implementation of this project will not only bring bilateral cooperation in the energy sector to a new level but "also promote the further advancement of multifaceted Russian-Turkish partnership and help strengthen friendship and understanding between the two countries".
He also drew attention to the fact that the Russian side is actively attracting Turkish business to the construction of the plant and that a significant part of the orders within the Akkuyu construction are localized in Turkey itself. "This once again confirms the commercial benefit of the project for all its participants," the Russian leader said.
Putin expressed gratitude to the Turkish President for the initiative to hold the event in a solemn atmosphere. He also thanked all participants in the construction of the nuclear power plant.
Personnel for the Turkish nuclear industry
Putin believes that the implementation of the Akkuyu NPP construction project will give Turkey a serious impetus for the development of its nuclear industry. The Russian leader noted the successful training of Turkish nuclear specialists in Russia.
"A powerful impetus will be given to the development of a fundamentally new industry in Turkey - nuclear power, strengthening the country's scientific and industrial potential, creating additional jobs," the Russian leader said.
Putin noted that "as of today, the total number of personnel at the site exceeds 8 thousand people and most of them are Turkish citizens." "The Akkuyu nuclear power plant has a Rosatom center for training of technical personnel of the future plant and Russian universities are training nuclear engineers for Turkey," the Russian President said. According to him, "more than a hundred Turkish students are currently being educated in Russia and will be employed at Akkuyu in the future."
"The total number of Turkish graduates will exceed 200 people already this year, which will prepare a sufficient number of national staff for the Turkish nuclear industry by the start of startup work at the nuclear power plant," the Russian leader pointed out.
He congratulated the project participants on the beginning of a new stage in the implementation of the Russian-Turkish project to create the first nuclear power plant in Turkey.
Support for the Akkuyu project
The Russian president said he had agreed with his Turkish counterpart to continue supporting the Akkuyu NPP project. "With Mr. Erdogan, we attach great importance to this project and have agreed with the Turkish president to continue providing the Akkuyu project with the necessary assistance and support," the Russian leader said.
Putin reminded that the first nuclear power plant in Turkey should be commissioned in 2023 marking the centennial of the Republic of Turkey. This was the objective set by the Turkish government before the project launch. According to the President of the Russian Federation, the implementation of the project "will make a serious contribution to strengthening energy security of the Republic of Turkey, will help to stimulate further growth of its economy and provide Turkish consumers with inexpensive and environmentally friendly electricity. "In total four power units with reactors with a total capacity of 4,800 MW will be built on the Akkuyu site which will be able to produce up to 37 billion kWh of electricity annually," said the Russian head of state.
The Russian President expressed satisfaction that "coordinated efforts of Russian and Turkish nuclear specialists, engineers and workers help to ensure the construction of the nuclear power plant in accordance with the agreed schedule and successfully solve the most complicated design and installation technological problems. "Even the well-known difficulties related to the coronavirus pandemic could not hinder the consistent implementation of the Akkuyu project. Sanitary and epidemiological safety and health protection of employees directly employed at the facility are ensured at the highest level," Putin stressed.
About Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
The first nuclear power plant in Turkey is being built on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia and Turkey in May 2010. A specially created company, Akkuyu Nukler, which is 99% owned by Rosatom, is responsible for the construction of the plant. Akkuyu NPP will consist of four power units of 1200 MW each. Once completed, the plant will generate about 35 billion kWh per year.
Construction of the first unit of Akkuyu NPP began in April 2018, the second unit in June 2020. Rosatom has already submitted the documents for the license for the construction of the fourth and last unit of the plant to the Turkish regulatory authorities. As previously reported by Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Head of Rosatom, Director of Development and International Business of the State Corporation, the license for the construction of the fourth unit of Akkuyu NPP may be obtained by the fall of 2021.
The first Akkuyu NPP unit is planned to be commissioned by the 100th anniversary of the republic, in 2023. When Putin visited Ankara in 2018, he noted that he would try to attend the commissioning ceremony of the first Akkuyu unit.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS