The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant () is the only large nuclear power plant in Turkey and is under construction at Akkuyu, in Büyükeceli, Mersin Province. It is expected to generate around 10% of the country's electricity when completed.
In May 2010, Russia and Turkey signed an agreement that a subsidiary of Rosatom would build, own, and operate a power plant at Akkuyu comprising four 1,200 MWe VVER1200 units. Construction of the first reactor commenced in April 2018. In February 2013, Russian nuclear construction company Atomstroyexport (ASE) and Turkish construction company Özdoğu signed the site preparation contract for the proposed Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. The contract includes excavation work at the site.
The official launch ceremony took place in April 2015, and the first unit was completed in 2023.
It is expected to be the first build–own–operate nuclear power plant in the world.
History
In May 2010, Russia and Turkey signed an agreement that a subsidiary of Rosatom — Akkuyu NGS Elektrik Uretim Corp. (APC: Akkuyu Project Company) — would build, own, and operate a power plant at Akkuyu comprising four 1,200 MW VVER units. The agreement was ratified by the Turkish Parliament in July 2010. Engineering and survey work started at the site in 2011.
In 2013, Russian nuclear construction company Atomstroyexport (ASE) and Turkish construction company Ozdogu signed the site preparation contract for the proposed Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The contract includes excavation work at the site.
The official launch ceremony took place in April 2015.
On 9 December 2015, the news agency Reuters reported that Rosatom stopped construction work at the power plant and that Turkey was assessing other potential candidates for the project. But Rosatom and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resource Ministry promptly refuted the statement. Despite tensions mounted between Russia and Turkey, due to the Turkish downing of a Russian fighter jet on 24 November (2015), Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the decision to continue is purely a commercial one. A source told RIA Novosti that the company set up to construct the nuclear plant continued its operations in Turkey.
Major construction started in March 2018. In March 2019, the concrete basemat of unit 1 had been completed.
Construction of the second unit started on 26 June 2020. Steam generators for unit 1 were completed by Atommash later in August to be shipped to Turkey. Around the same time, a core melt trap for unit 2 to contain a nuclear meltdown arrived at Akkuyu to be placed in the plant. GE Steam Power is supplying four Arabelle steam turbines manufactured at Belfort, France, for the project, the first in January 2021.
Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant's Construction Organization Director is Denis Sezemin.
The first unit is hoped to become operational in 2023, but in 2022 Rosatom was having difficulty obtaining equipment from third countries. It is expected to become operational in October 2024. The other three units are expected to be completed by 2026. The nuclear plant was inaugurated on 27 April 2023 with the delivery of the first nuclear fuel to the plant site.
Economics
Financing is provided by Russian investors, with 93% from a Rosatom subsidiary. Up to 49% of shares may be sold later to other investors.
Turkish Electricity Trade and Contract Corporation (TETAS) has guaranteed the purchase of 70% power generated from the first two units and 30% from the third and fourth units over a 15-year power purchase agreement. Electricity will be purchased at a price of 12.35 US cents per kW·h and the remaining power will be sold in the open market by the producer.According to energy analysts this price is high.
According to President Erdoğan nuclear power will make the country more economically independent. Although it will be technically possible to ramp power up and down, because fuel is a small part of the cost and operating costs remain the same there is almost no economic benefit in load-following, therefore nuclear is expected to supply baseload power. For baseload power levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and Value-Added LCOE (VALCOE) are the same. In 2020 Shura Energy Center forecast that for nuclear power that will be 80-85 USD/MWh in 2040.
Operator liability is limited to 700 million euros, and above that will be the responsibility of the Nuclear Damage Detection Commission.