Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear plant aims for first reactor startup by year-end

Rosatom leader Alexei Likhachev announced that the first reactor of Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear complex is expected to attain its initial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction before the end of the calendar year. The Mediterranean-based plant in Mersin, valued at $20 billion, will ultimately comprise four reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 MW, which could supply about one-tenth of the nation's electricity demand once fully operational.

Turkey intends to add two additional nuclear facilities, one on the Black Sea coast at Sinop and another in the Thrace region, and remains in talks with Canada, China, Russia and South Korea regarding these expansions. On the same day, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar reported a discussion in Moscow with Novatek's chair about potential collaboration in the liquefied natural gas sector, emphasizing Turkey's goal of diversifying its energy sources and strengthening supply security. Turkey, one of Europe's largest gas markets, consumed 59 billion cubic metres of gas last year and relies heavily on imports, though it has secured long-term LNG contracts with other major producers but not with Novatek.