South Korea and Türkiye Sign Financing Agreement to Advance Nuclear Power Cooperation

Recently, during a bilateral meeting held in Seoul between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and Türkiye's nuclear energy company formally signed a memorandum of cooperation on financing for energy projects. It is reported that the agreement aims to provide solid financial guarantees for South Korean companies intending to participate in the construction of Türkiye's second nuclear power plant at Sinop on the Black Sea coast. Türkiye's Ministry of Energy stated that the two sides will establish a joint working group to discuss specific financing arrangements and information exchange. Prior to this, South Korea's state-owned Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) had...

2026-11-04

US and Turkish Refining Giant Sign Agreement to Evaluate SMR Feasibility

Recently, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) signed an agreement with Tüpraş, Turkey's largest refiner, under which the U.S. side will fund a feasibility study to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of using small modular reactors (SMRs) to supply electricity, high-grade industrial heat, and steam to the refinery. It is reported that the study will conduct a comprehensive assessment of multiple leading U.S. reactor technologies, covering technical and economic feasibility, environmental performance, regulatory compliance, and industrial application scenarios, and will develop a specific roadmap for Tüpraş's subsequent decision on whether to deploy SMRs. USTDA Deputy Director Thomas Hardy stated that the project will issue a public tender aimed at...

2026-10-29

Vesta Engineering Deploys Industrial Television System for Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

Recently, engineering equipment supplier Vesta Engineering is integrating the latest industrial television system into the infrastructure of Units 1 and 2 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant under construction in Turkey. The system complies with high safety class 3 and 4 standards, and is designed to provide comprehensive continuous monitoring of nuclear power plant processes, delivering real-time information support and emergency response assurance for operating personnel. It is reported that the industrial television system consists of plant-wide and unit-level process video monitoring subsystems, as well as a dedicated video recording subsystem for operating personnel behavior (VDOP). The hardware architecture integrates power supply and digital trans...

2026-10-26

Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to start criticality before the end of the year

Recently, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the first reactor of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey is expected to be officially loaded with fuel and achieve first criticality (i.e., the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction) in the second half of December this year, pushing the project to formally transition from the construction phase to the commissioning and startup phase. It is understood that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is Turkey's first nuclear power plant. The project plans to build 4 Russian VVER-1200 Generation III reactors, with a total investment exceeding US$20 billion, fully funded and constructed by Rosatom under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model....

2026-10-17

Akkuyu NPP in Türkiye Holds Full-Scale Joint Emergency Exercise: Cross-Departmental Live Drill Tested Ahead of First Unit Commissioning

The Akkuyu NPP, Türkiye's first nuclear power project, constructed by Rosatom, held a large-scale comprehensive emergency and firefighting tactical live exercise on October 12 at the Büyükeceli site in Mersin Province. The exercise aimed to comprehensively test the multi-agency coordinated response capabilities of nuclear power plant operating shift personnel, external technical support organizations, and Turkish local emergency rescue teams under extreme conditions, providing critical pre-commissioning safety justification for Unit 1 of the project as it formally enters the fuel-loading and commercial power generation phase. Rosatom Director General Alexey...

2026-10-14

Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Completes Primary Circuit Hydrostatic Test: Fully Advancing Toward the Hot Functional Test Stage

Unit 1 of the Akkuyu NPP, Turkey's first nuclear power plant, has successfully completed the hydrostatic test of the primary circuit system and core equipment. The successful completion of this hydrostatic test verified the pressure-bearing integrity and sealing performance of the primary circuit system, clearing engineering obstacles for the unit's subsequent launch of the critical hot functional test. During the test, the pressure-bearing value of the primary circuit system (covering the reactor pressure vessel, main coolant pumps, steam generators, pressurizer, and the main coolant piping connecting all components) was raised to 24.5 MPa, equivalent to approximately 1.5 times the unit's normal operating pressure; the initial temperature of the primary circuit demineralized water reached 135°C. Eng...

2026-10-10

Rosatom Manufactures Innovative Equipment for Akkuyu NPP Unit 2 in Turkey

According to reports, Atommash, the machine-building plant of Rosatom in the Rostov Region, has completed the manufacture of a full set of high-tech equipment for the turbine building of Akkuyu NPP Unit 2. This is the first time Atommash has produced a Separator-Steam Superheater (SPP), which is used to ensure the operation of the turbine unit. Rostov Region Governor Yury Slyusar and Igor Kotov, head of Rosatom's machine-building division, attended the equipment completion ceremony. Kotov said, on the occasion of the plant's 50th anniversary...

2026-09-29

Uzbekistan and Turkey Discuss Cooperation on Civil Construction and Infrastructure Works for the First Nuclear Power Plant

The Uzbek Atomic Energy Development Agency (Uzatom) and a delegation from Turkey's large engineering and construction group Özaltın Holding held high-level working talks in Tashkent on September 25, focusing on the feasibility of multi-faceted engineering cooperation in the construction of Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant project. It is understood that the talks were chaired by Azim Axmedxadjayev, Director of Uzatom, and Muzaffer Özdemir, CEO of Özaltın Holding, led the delegation. The two sides held discussions centered on the full-cycle construction...

2026-09-28

Turkey's National Nuclear Energy Agency (TUNAS) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Launch New Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Turkey and the United States will cooperate on a technical study aimed at assessing the potential application of U.S. small modular reactors (SMRs) and Generation IV nuclear technologies. This project, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), is being implemented by Turkey's state-owned nuclear energy company (Turkiye Nuclear Energy, or TUNAS) in cooperation with the United States. During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, TUNAS and USTDA reached an agreement on the project. The study will evaluate SMR designs from four U.S. companies and five Generation IV reactor technologies from multiple perspectives, including technical, economic, legislative, and licensing aspects, to determine their potential application in Turkey...

2026-09-23

Uzbekistan and Turkey to Strengthen Cooperation in the Field of Radiation and Nuclear Safety

Uzbekistan and Turkey reached an important agreement at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of radiation and nuclear safety. The Scientific and Technical Center for Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety of Uzbekistan and the Turkish Nuclear Technical Support Joint Stock Company (NÜTED) signed the relevant documents, marking concrete steps forward in information exchange and technical collaboration between the two sides. The focus of cooperation lies in effectively utilizing their respective scientific and technological resources, sharing valuable experience, and applying modern safety methods in practical operations. Both sides recognize that in the field of nuclear safety, the exchange of experience and tech...

2026-09-18

Commissioning Preparation Work Begins for the Control System of Akkuyu NPP Unit 1 in Turkey

The process automation control system of Akkuyu NPP Unit 1 in Turkey has begun preparations for pre-commissioning signal testing, which will be carried out before the physical start-up of the reactor. The process automation control system is the core hub of a nuclear power plant, enabling plant operating personnel to monitor and manage all process systems that support power generation. Akkuyu Nuclear Company noted in its announcement that the control systems used in the units of Akkuyu NPP possess the extremely high reliability characteristic of Russian-designed units. The control safety system responsible for automatic start-up and management of active safety systems has excellent fault tolerance, with a failure rate indicator reaching only one possible error per 1...

2026-09-18

Turkey and Danish Developer Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Thorium-Based Molten Salt Reactor Research

On September 9, 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Energy stated that the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Institute (TENMAK) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Danish advanced reactor developer Copenhagen Atomics (CA), under which the two parties will conduct collaborative research on the application of thorium as a potential nuclear fuel for molten salt reactors. Tenmak and Copenhagen Atomics signed the memorandum of understanding on September 7. Photo courtesy of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The Turkish Ministry of Energy stated that the cooperation aims to advance research in areas related to thorium as a potential fuel for nuclear reactors, with a focus on assessing...

2026-09-10

Türkiye partners with Danish company to develop thorium-based nuclear technology

Türkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources stated on September 7 that the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Danish nuclear technology developer Copenhagen Atomics to cooperate on developing next-generation nuclear energy technologies centered on Türkiye's thorium resources. According to the Turkish statement, the cooperation priorities include research and development of technologies that can utilize thorium, domestic production of thorium compounds in Türkiye, and promoting the participation of Turkish industrial enterprises, technology companies, and researchers in thorium-based nuclear technology development. The two sides will focus on thorium material preparation, research and development, and project design applicable to next-generation nuclear reactors, particularly molten salt reactors.

2026-09-08

Türkiye says Russia interested in participating in new nuclear power projects

Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar recently stated that Russia has expressed interest in participating in Türkiye's new nuclear power plant projects, including the Sinop nuclear power plant on the Black Sea coast and a nuclear power project in the northwestern Thrace region. South Korea, Canada, and China are also in contact with Türkiye regarding nuclear power cooperation. In an interview on September 6 local time, Bayraktar said Russia hopes to apply the experience and personnel accumulated during the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant to the Sinop and Thrace nuclear power projects. He stated that in addition to Russia, Türkiye is also in contact with Canada...

2026-09-08

Türkiye continues negotiations with multiple countries on new nuclear power plants

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Türkiye's negotiations on new nuclear power plants have not yet been completed, and the country remains in contact with Russia, China, Canada, South Korea, and others, with no agreements signed for the relevant projects. Bayraktar said Russia is interested in participating in the Sinop and Thrace nuclear power plant projects and hopes to leverage the experience and human resources accumulated in the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project. In addition to Russia, Türkiye is also in negotiations with Canada, China, and South Korea on other nuclear power projects. He stated that beyond the Akkuyu plant, Türkiye plans to build eight more reactors...

2026-09-07

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, including equipment, materials, and services...

2026-09-07

Pre-commissioning WANO Peer Review Launched at Türkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

The planning phase of the pre-commissioning peer review by the World Association of Nuclear Operators Moscow Centre (WANO-MC) has been launched at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site in Türkiye. The plant, being constructed by Rosatom, is the first nuclear power plant under construction in Türkiye. This mission focuses primarily on Unit 1 of the Akkuyu NPP. Upon completion of the review, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) will conduct an independent assessment of the operational readiness of the unit's systems, equipment, and operating personnel, providing a reference for the subsequent safe operation of the unit. The review is led by Wang Tingkui, head of the WANO-MC Crew Performance Observation (CPO) and peer review team. According to...

2026-09-04

Putin Says Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Expected to Start in 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he believes Rosatom can start Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant as scheduled in 2026. According to relevant information, Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on August 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. On September 1, he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the talks, the two sides mentioned cooperation in the energy sector, with the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project being a key focus. Putin stated that the two countries' major joint projects are still progressing, including the well-known Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-09-02

Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant can meet up to 10% of the country's energy consumption once all four units are operational

Rosatom recently released a report stating that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant it is constructing in Turkey can meet up to 10% of Turkey's energy consumption demand once all four units are fully operational. The report notes that nuclear power projects implemented by Rosatom overseas can support relevant countries in enhancing their energy independence. Taking the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant as an example, once all four units are in operation, Turkey will have the capacity to meet a considerable portion of its energy consumption through this project. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is Turkey's first nuclear power plant, constructed with the participation of Rosatom. According to information disclosed by the company, the aforementioned contribution will be realized after all four units...

2026-08-29

Welding of main circulation pipeline completed for Unit 2 of Turkey's Akkuyu NPP

On August 27, welding of the main circulation pipeline was completed for Unit 2 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. The pipeline connects the reactor, steam generators, and main circulation pumps, and is one of the key components forming the primary circuit system of the reactor facility. The welding work lasted 73 days and involved welding 32 pipe joints. Engineering technicians, welders, fitters, pipe cutters, non-destructive testing personnel, heat treatment personnel, and quality inspection personnel participated in the relevant operations. During construction, each process step proceeded according to the established technological workflow, and welded joints had to pass inspection before moving to the next stage. According to reports, all welded joints underwent high-temperature heat treatment to relieve internal stress in the metal and ensure compliance with design performance requirements.

2026-08-28

Test vacuum established in turbine condenser of Unit 1 at Turkey's Akkuyu NPP

On August 25, test vacuum was established in the turbine condenser of Unit 1 at Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. This operation verified the readiness of the main systems of the turbine unit, creating conditions for subsequent commissioning work. Specialists from TITAN-2 Holding (TITAN-2) established the required vacuum in the condenser and checked the tightness of the vacuum system as well as the thermal and mechanical condition of the turbine. During the test, technical personnel continuously monitored key parameters such as steam pressure, bearing temperatures, thermal expansion of cylinders and rotors, and condenser vacuum level. While the turbine was rotated by the turning gear, experts also verified the operational condition of the turbine flow path. This...

2026-08-27