A business meeting between Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, and Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, took place in Istanbul. The parties discussed the implementation status of the largest joint Russian and Turkish project – Akkuyu NPP, as well as the potential prospects for expansion of cooperation.
“As far as Akkuyu NPP and its current status are concerned, the main efforts are focused on the preparation for start-up of the first power unit. Intensive full-scale start-up and adjustment works are in progress, at the current stage, we are preparing the reactor plant for dummy fuel loading. We understand how important it is for the Turkish part to start “the first nuclear power” in the Turkish grid as soon as possible,” Alexey Likhachev noted following the meeting.
“We have discussed the current status of the works at the Akkuyu NPP site and the roadmap for commissioning of the first power unit. We are working intensively in order to put the first power unit into operation as soon as possible. At the same time construction of three other power units is going on. When all power units of Akkuyu NPP are put into operation, the power plant will provide for 10 percent of the electric power demand in Turkey,” Alparslan Bayraktar emphasized.
In the course of the meeting the parties also discussed the possibility for implementation of the project for construction of the second nuclear power plant in the Republic of Turkey – Sinop NPP – by Rosatom. The potential design solutions of Rosatom will be based on the desire of the Turkish party to enhance the project effect for the Turkish economy.