Energy Minister: Turkey's first nuclear plant, Akkuyu, will be completed according to schedule

Some news agencies have reported that the Akkuyu Nuclear Plant, Turkey's first nuclear power plant that is scheduled to be finished in 2019, is unlikely to be ready before 2022 due to Russia's financial problems. However, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız refused the claims and said that the project will follow its schedule, while adding that delays may occur because of technical issues. The $20 billion project was launched in 2013 in partnership with Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) to build four 1,200-megawatt reactors.

Yıldız said that the completion of the plant will go according to schedule and stressed that 50 billion rubles, which was worth more before the ruble depreciated against the dollar, were brought to Turkey at the beginning of January this year. This means that around $3 billion has been deposited into Turkish banks thanks to the nuclear plant. He also reiterated that at such a large scale – as the project is worth around $22 billion – there will be various attacks on the project along with various new opportunities. Yıldız added that after completing the port project, the foundations of the project would be laid together with the partners. "We will try to realize the 4,800-MW nuclear power plant according to the schedule; however, it is possible for delays to occur," Yıldız added.

Security is of the utmost importance during the construction of the plant, even more so than all industrial and technological improvements the project will bring. "We will consider earthquake risks along with other risks and establish the most reliable plants of Turkey in Akkuyu and Sinop," Yıldız stressed.