June 09, 2026, Büyükeceli, Mersin, Türkiye. – Dummy fuel
assemblies loading operation into the reactor
vessel of Unit 1 of Akkuyu
NPP (under
construction by Rosatom State Corporation) has been completed.
During the operation, 163
fuel dummies, which are exact replicas of nuclear fuel in
design, weight and
dimensions, but not
containing nuclear materials,
were sequentially loaded into
the reactor. Dummy fuel assemblies for Akkuyu NPP Unit 1, as well as the nuclear fuel, were manufactured
at a Rosatom Fuel Division facility.
Fuel dummies loading is one of the final stages of preparation for the cold–hot running-in of the reactor plant equipment, preceding the reactor start-up. Carrying out such an operation using dummy assemblies allows to confirm readiness for subsequent commissioning operations, during which specialists will check the hydraulic characteristics of the reactor plant, as well as work out transport and technological operations using the fuel-handling machine.
Akkuyu Nuclear JSC CEO Sergei Butckikh: "The completion of loading of dummy fuel assemblies at Akkuyu NPP Unit 1 is a full rehearsal for loading nuclear fuel. Using the dummies, we work out procedures for handling nuclear fuel in conditions as close to operational as possible, and confirm the readiness of equipment and personnel for the next pre-launch stage."
Upon loading of
fuel dummies, the specialists will begin assembling
the reactor and preparing
for the next key
stage of Unit commissioning
– the cold-hot running-in of the reactor plant.
The fuel dummies loading operation was carried out under the supervision of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Türkiye (NDK) in strict accordance with relevant safety requirements.
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear
power plant being built in the Republic of Türkiye. The Akkuyu NPP project
includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ VVER reactors of Russian
design.
The capacity of each power unit is 1200 MW. Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate business model.
