New Turkish nuclear unit Akkuyu 2 gets green light to begin commissioning

The second VVER-1200 nuclear unit at Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, has moved closer to commissioning. The nuclear regulator has issued the necessary permit to begin start-up of the unit, which has an installed capacity of 1200 MW (gross). Four Russian nuclear units are being built at the plant. According to the latest plans, the first will begin commercial operation later this year. Once completed, the plant will account for roughly 10% of Turkey’s electricity generation.

Turkey’s nuclear regulator has issued a permit to begin preparatory work for commissioning the new Akkuyu 2 nuclear unit. The country began construction of the second unit at Turkey’s first nuclear power plant in April 2020. The unit, with an installed capacity of 1114 MW (net), aims to enter commercial operation next year.

“Obtaining the permit for pre-commissioning confirms compliance with the supervisory authority’s requirements regarding the preparation of supporting documentation. It also allows preparations to begin for pre-commissioning activities on the second unit. Alongside construction work, specialists will begin thorough inspections and adjustment of the equipment,” said Sergey Butskikh, CEO of Akkuyu Nuclear JSC.

The power plant applied for a permit to carry out activities leading to the commissioning of the units in May 2025. The more than 20,000-page dossier included, in particular, descriptions of the individual commissioning stages and related technological processes. The nuclear regulator issued a permit for the plant’s first unit in December 2023, and the unit is currently being prepared for cold and hot tests before nuclear fuel is loaded.

Turkey’s nuclear plans

Turkey’s first nuclear power plant with four VVER-1200 reactors is being built by Russian energy company Rosatom under a build-own-operate model. An intergovernmental agreement from 2010 envisaged that the plant’s first unit would enter commercial operation within 7 years of receiving all construction permits. All four units have officially been under construction since July 2022.

Once completed, the plant will have a capacity of 4 456 MW (net) and cover roughly 10% of Turkey’s electricity generation. It will produce around 35 TWh of clean electricity annually for 60 years, with the option to extend its operating life by a further 20 years.

The country also has plans on the drawing board for a second and third nuclear power plant, and is working with South Korea and China on their development. By 2030, Turkey plans to build 5 GW of installed capacity in small modular reactors.