Russia’s state nuclear power corporation Rosatom has begun commissioning the first unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, the company announced in a press release on Tuesday.
The Akkuyu plant is the only such facility in Turkey and is being built in Akkuyu, Mersin province, by Rosatom. The plant’s construction began in 2018.
Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev commented on the progress in Akkuyu, saying that work on the “nuclear island” is proceeding according to plan.
“This year we will thoroughly check all systems including the primary circuit, conduct hydraulic tests and load fuel simulators directly into the reactor,” he said.
“We are doing everything to ensure that next year the first unit of Akkuyu NPP becomes part of the energy system of the Republic of Türkiye. All our efforts and the work of Turkish companies are aimed at this. There are many of them here, and they show great professionalism as well as mobilization.”
Likhachev added that Rosatom intends to commission the first unit this year. All four units are expected to be operational by the end of 2028 and could produce 10 percent of Turkey’s electricity needs.