Number of Turkish engineers at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant exceeds 350
The installation of the outer protective shell of the reactor building of the 1st power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), built by the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom, has been completed. (Rosatom-AA Photo)
Türkiye’s Energy & Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that the number of Turkish engineers employed at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has surpassed 350.
Turkish engineers play key role at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
Minister Bayraktar, in a post shared on his X (formerly known as Twitter) social media account, emphasized the critical role of Turkish engineers trained in Russia in establishing Türkiye’s nuclear infrastructure and industry.
The engineers, who completed undergraduate and graduate-level nuclear studies in Russia are expected to contribute significantly to the success of Türkiye’s nuclear energy initiatives.
Bayraktar remarked that these professionals represent a cornerstone of the country’s efforts to achieve energy independence.
Turkish engineers who completed their undergraduate and graduate education in the nuclear field in Russia will play a key role in the formation of our country’s nuclear infrastructure and industry.
The number of our Turkish engineers who successfully completed this special program in which training continues and started working at Akkuyu NPP has exceeded 350. With this mega project and the Turkish nuclear energy experts it has trained, Türkiye will have taken a strategic step towards energy independence.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar
Akkuyu NPP: A strategic project for Türkiye’s energy independence
Türkiye embarked on its journey to build its first nuclear power plant in 2010, signing an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom.
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), located in Mersin, was designed to produce 4,800 megawatts (MW) of power from four reactors. Key milestones in the project include:
- 2013: Construction of the plant began.
- 2018: Significant acceleration in construction efforts.
- 2023: Nuclear fuel loaded into the first power unit, with a planned startup in late 2023.
The project, valued at $20 billion, aims to produce 10% of Türkiye’s electricity once completed by 2028.
Progress at Akkuyu plant
Despite the setbacks, construction at Akkuyu has progressed. Notable achievements in 2023 include:
- Turbine foundation completed: For the third reactor, advanced technology was used to lay the foundation of the turbine system.
- Concrete pouring: A total of 2,220 cubic meters of high-strength concrete was used, and the structure was designed to withstand heavy loads.
- Technological milestones: The turbine system is designed to convert steam into mechanical energy, facilitating electricity production.
