Türkiye and the U.S. inked a new agreement for nuclear cooperation covering small modular reactors (SMRs) and fourth-generation reactor designs, the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
The deal was signed between Türkiye Nuclear Energy Inc. (TÜNAŞ) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the statement said.
"As part of our engagements in the U.S., we attended the signing ceremony at Türkevi for a grant agreement between Türkiye Nuclear Energy Inc. (TÜNAŞ) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) regarding Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Fourth-Generation Reactors," Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said in a statement on X.
The minister said that with the agreement, they would "comprehensively assess the technical, economic, and regulatory feasibility of next-generation nuclear technologies for our country."
He also recalled the net-zero emissions goal by 2053 and the goal of energy independence, adding that the government is committed to diversifying the energy mix.
"In addition to our large-scale nuclear power plants, we will continue with determination to build a robust and modern energy infrastructure by meticulously exploring the alternatives best suited to our country’s needs," Bayraktar said.
Under the agreement, SMR designs from four U.S. companies and five different fourth-generation reactor designs from U.S. firms will be evaluated from technical, economic, regulatory, and licensing perspectives, according to the ministry.
The technical study will examine the design characteristics, costs, licensing status, supply chains, SWOT analyses, financing sources, and financial models of the reactors in question. Assessments will also be conducted regarding authorization, emergency preparedness, design safety, site selection, and the legal framework.
Technical reports will be prepared following these analyses. USTDA will fund the technical study, which is set to last at least one year, under an agreement with a budget of approximately $2 million, the statement noted.
Bayraktar signed the memorandum of understanding on "Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation" alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump, held at the White House on Sept. 25 last year.
The new agreement was signed on the sidelines of this year's U.N. General Assembly.
