Delegations of Turkey and Russia will hold a meeting on the Akkuyu NPP

MOSCOW, 6 Sep — PRIME. The delegations of Turkey and Russia will hold a meeting to eliminate problems at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, the schedule does not tolerate delays, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez said.

Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant under construction in Turkey. It is planned that after the commissioning of all four units of the station with Russian VVER-1200 reactors, it will generate about 35 billion kilowatt-hours per year and cover up to 10% of Turkey’s electricity needs. Akkuyu is the first project in the global nuclear industry implemented according to the “build-own-operate” model. The cost of construction is about 20 billion dollars. The Akkuyu project meets all modern international safety requirements in the nuclear power industry.

“Negotiations on Akkuyu are ongoing. Both sides have formed delegations to coordinate. There was a first meeting, now there will be a second one. Our president is also following this process closely. There is no consensus yet. But we reminded both sides that they must act more constructively, more prudently and that the project schedule does not tolerate delays,” Milliyet newspaper quoted the minister as saying.

Akkuyu Nuclear, a subsidiary of the Russian state corporation Rosatom, canceled the contract with the main contractor for the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, the Turkish company IC Ictas, in response to which the Turkish company announced its intention to apply to the British and Turkish courts, Bloomberg reported earlier. Akkuyu Nuclear, a project company, canceled a contract with IC Ictas last week and signed an agreement with another company, TSM Enerji, which is owned by three Russian firms, according to the agency.

Rosatom Corporation, commenting on the decision to change the contractor, told the agency that the upcoming work will require “specialized skills in nuclear construction to ensure the quality of work that meets the construction and commissioning deadlines.” IC Ictas called the decision “illegal” and said it could lead to a postponement of the project. IC Ictas also said it would take Rosatom to arbitration in London and also file a lawsuit in Turkey.

Earlier it became known that the Russian state corporation Rosatom is allocating $15 billion for the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, which will make it possible to complete the project by 75%.