Akkuyu NPP: A major element in Turkey's energy sector

The Akkuyu nuclear power plant, located in Turkey’s southern province of Mersin, is a major energy project for the country. As Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu marks a key step towards diversifying energy sources and increasing the country’s energy independence. With a planned installed capacity of 4x1200 MWe, the plant aims to cover approximately 10% of Turkey’s electricity consumption.

Technical milestones and construction progress

In December, the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority granted permission to commission the first reactor unit. At the time, Rosatom, the plant’s general contractor, announced that the area around the first unit had been cleared of construction materials and was ready for the controlled movement of personnel—a standard arrangement throughout the plant’s lifetime that ensures the highest possible level of safety.

Preparations are currently underway to load control fuel assemblies into the reactor core. This phase signals the completion of general construction work and the start of installing key reactor components.

Another technical achievement is the installation of the turbine generator stator, which weighs 430 tonnes, is 12 metres long and has a diameter of 4.2 metres. According to the project contractor, it is the heaviest component of the entire nuclear power plant. Transporting it and installing it in its prepared position required a hydraulic installation system and the construction of a rail track, illustrating the complexity and scale of the work on this project.

The future of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant

Establishing a “clean zone” at the site of a four-unit nuclear power plant and restricting personnel access are examples of the strict safety measures implemented throughout construction and subsequent operation. In December, the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority granted permission to start up the first reactor unit, confirming that all necessary safety and regulatory standards have been met.

According to Rosatom, the Akkuyu 1 project is now 90% complete and nearing its official launch, planned for this year. However, the original start-up date was planned for 2023.

Under the terms of the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Turkey, the first unit of the Akkuyu plant must start operating within 7 years of receiving all permits to begin construction.

Rosatom is developing the Akkuyu plant under the BOO (build-own-operate) model. Under the current schedule, all four units should be operational by the end of 2028 at the latest.