Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 to Generate Electricity by End of 2026

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan·Bayraktar stated that Unit 1 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has entered the testing phase, with Turkey aiming to complete commissioning and begin electricity generation by the end of 2026.

Bayraktar said construction of the remaining units at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is still progressing, and the project team also plans to build a data center near Units 3 and 4.

He also noted that due to factors such as the pandemic, rising commodity prices, and increased construction costs, the total cost of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has exceeded the initially planned $20 billion. However, the project has made progress in localization, with the localization rate for equipment, materials, and services reaching 58.17%, and more than 400 local Turkish enterprises participating in the project construction.

Bayraktar stated that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project has driven Turkish enterprises to produce in accordance with nuclear power standards and has also fostered the cultivation of related professional talent. According to Turkish estimates, the project is expected to contribute approximately $50 billion to Turkey's GDP over its full lifecycle.

The Russian side previously stated that Rosatom is confident in promoting the startup of Unit 1 at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant as planned in 2026. The Turkish side has also confirmed that commissioning of this unit has entered its final stage.