Akkuyu NPP is being constructed by the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom based on the Intergovernmental Agreement signed between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye on May 12, 2010.
In December 2010, AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC was established in Ankara, Türkiye to facilitate project implementation. As the project company, AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC assumed responsibility for the NPP design, construction, operation and decommissioning.
The NPP construction site is located in the southern province of Mersin on the Mediterranean coast. The settlement closest to the construction site is the town of Büyükeceli in Gülnar district.
PROJECT PROGRESS
December 2014 – Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning of the Republic of Türkiye approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the Akkuyu NPP construction project.
January 2015 – AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC and Turkish State Power Trading Company (TETAȘ) signed general commercial and financial terms of a long-term power purchase agreement.
June 2016 – the Republic of Türkiye amended its legislation to remove the last barriers for the project to move ahead. Amendments were made to three Turkish laws that prohibit cutting down of olive trees on the proposed site, shaping the seafront and selling power by foreign producers.
February 2017 – the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) approved the design parameters of the Akkuyu NPP site.
March 2017 – construction license application was submitted to TAEK.
June 2017 – the Turkish Energy Market Regulation Authority issued a 49-year electricity generation license to AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC.
October 2017 – AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC received a Limited Construction Permit for Unit 1 from TAEK.
December 2017 – Pouring of concrete for the sub-base foundation of the nuclear island took place at Unit 1
March 2018 – Administration of Gülnar (Mersin province) granted AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC a building permit for Unit 1 reactor building.
April 2, 2018 – TAEK granted AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC the main construction license for Unit 1 of Akkuyu NPP.
April 3, 2018 – A solemn ceremony of pouring the “first concrete” into the foundation of the first power unit of Akkuyu NPP was held with the participation of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Türkiye via videoconference from Ankara. The ceremony became an official kick-off of full-scale construction work on Unit 1.
November 30, 2018 – TAEK issued a Limited Construction for Unit 2 to AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC. Within this permit, excavation of the foundation pit for Unit 2 facilities was launched in January 2019.
March 8, 2019 – Concreting of the foundation of the reactor building of Unit 1 was completed.
May 9, 2019 – Construction of the Eastern (Vostochny) Cargo Terminal was completed. The terminal is designed to receive equipment for the NPP under construction, including bulky cargoes. The permit for its operation was given by the Ministry of Transport, Shipping and Communications of the Republic of Türkiye.
July 11, 2019 – The first large-sized cargo for Unit 1 – the core melt localization device, or “core catcher” – was delivered to the Akkuyu NPP construction site.
July 22, 2019 – An EPC contract for design, engineering, supply of equipment, and construction of the Akkuyu NPP facilities was signed between AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC and TİTAN 2 IC İÇTAŞ İNŞAAT ANONİM ŞİRKETİ, a JV of the Russian CONCERN TITAN-2 JSC and the Turkish IC İçtaş İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
August 26, 2019 – AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC was granted the main construction license for Unit 2 by the decision of the Board of the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK). The license allowed proceeding to full-scale construction work at all facilities of the unit.
October 1, 2019 – The grand opening of the school for the children of the Akkuyu NPP project employees was held in the city of Silifke in Mersin Province. This opening provided such children with an opportunity to receive education in their native language and according to Russian standards.
October 25, 2019 – A planned emergency response exercise was held for the first time at the Akkuyu NPP construction site. The training involved the region’s firefighting, rescue, medical aid and other emergency services. The exercise was aimed to enhance the coordination, cohesion and responsiveness of various services in emergency situations.
December 2, 2019 – AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC and the Turkish Electricity Transmission Joint-Stock Company (TEİAŞ) signed an agreement to connect Akkuyu NPP to the power grid of the Republic of Türkiye. The conclusion of the agreement enabled AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC and TEİAŞ to commence full-scale work on the Akkuyu NPP grid integration scheme to be comprised of 6 high-voltage transmission lines to connect Akkuyu NPP to the power grid of Türkiye.
April 8, 2020 – The construction of Unit 2 was officially started with pouring the first concrete into the foundation plate of the reactor building.
August 26, 2020 – The Core Melt Localization Device, or "core catcher", for Unit 2 was delivered to the Akkuyu NPP construction site.
August 27, 2020 – The reactor pressure vessel dry shielding, a safety component providing reliable NPP operation in emergencies including earthquakes of magnitude up to 9.0, was installed at Unit 1.
September 25, 2020 – A set of four steam generators for Unit 1 was delivered to the Akkuyu NPP construction site.
November 10, 2020 – The reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for Unit 1 was delivered to the Akkuyu NPP site, having covered a distance of 3,000 kilometers.
November 11, 2020 – Installation of the core catcher vessel into design position was completed in the reactor building of Unit 2.
November 13, 2020 – The Board of the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) approved issuance of the construction license for Unit 3 to AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC.
March 10, 2021 – A ceremony commemorating the start of Unit 3 construction was held at the Akkuyu NPP site. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined the ceremony via videoconference.
March 20, 2021 – The first heavy component of the steam turbine set – the rotor of the high and intermediate pressure cylinder was delivered to the Akkuyu NPP construction site.
May 29, 2021 – Installation of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV), one of the key stages in the main equipment assembly, was completed at Unit 1.
October 28, 2021 – The Board of the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) approved issuance of the construction license for Unit 4 to AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC.
January 31, 2022 – Concreting of the foundation plate of the reactor building started at Unit 4.
May 24, 2022 – Welding of the main circulation pipeline (MCP) was completed in the reactor building of Unit 1. MCP connects the main equipment of the reactor plant – reactor, steam generators, and reactor coolant pumps, thus shaping the NPP primary circuit.
June 13, 2022 – The 3rd tier of the internal containment was installed in the reactor building of Unit 2.
June 20, 2022 – The core melt localization device (“core catcher”) was installed in its design position at Unit 3.
August 14, 2022 – A polar crane was mounted in design position at Unit 1. The mounting of the polar crane allows performing further work for installation of the reactor compartment internal containment dome, mounting the process equipment, and preparation for water circulation with the open reactor.
September 8, 2022 – Installation of the reactor pressure vessel was completed at Unit 2.
September 21, 2022 – A “zero" background radiation measurement event took place at the Akkuyu NPP construction site.
October 13, 2022 – The 6th tier of the inner containment was installed in the reactor building of Unit 1.
October 29, 2022 – Installation of the pressurizer, a main primary circuit component of the reactor plant, was completed in the reactor building of Unit 1.
October 30, 2022 – The 2nd tier of the internal containment was installed in the reactor building of Unit 3.
December 27, 2022 – Process systems flushing onto the open reactor started at Unit 1.
January 2, 2023 – Installation of the internal containment was completed at Unit 1, with the dome of the internal containment installed in the design position.
January 14, 2023 – Installation of the passive core flooding system (PCFS) hydro accumulators was completed at Unit 1.
March 10, 2023 – Turbine building roof installation was completed at Unit 1.
April 27, 2023 – First batch of nuclear fuel was delivered to Akkuyu NPP site.
May 21, 2023 – Concreting of internal containment dome was completed at Unit 1.
July 2023 – Installation of a gas insulated switchgear designed for a voltage of 400 kV (GIS-400) started at Akkuyu NPP site.
August 8, 2023 – Concreting of the reactor building foundation slab was completed at Unit 4.
September 5, 2023 – A bridge crane with a lifting capacity of 350 tons was put into operation in the turbine hall of Unit 1.
October 2023 – Core catcher installation was completed at Unit 4.
October 11, 2023 – The first 390-ton overhead polar crane was commissioned at Unit 1.
October 29, 2023 – The first full-scale NPP simulator was put into operation at Akkuyu NPP to train the NPP operational personnel.
November 2023 – The verification of the reactor of Unit 1 for compliance with the safe and reliable operation requirements has been finalized.
December 2023 – Commissioning permit was received for Unit 1 from the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NDK) of the Republic of Türkiye.
FINANCING
The construction of Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry to be implemented based on the BOO.
(Build – Own – Operate) model.
The Russian party is currently funding 100% of the Akkuyu NPP construction project. Rosatom has the right to sell a stake of up to 49% to other investors. It can be either one investor for the entire 49%-stake, or a smaller stake, or several companies.
The total project cost is estimated at around
PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
Majority shareholder (currently – sole shareholder) of Akkuyu NPP
Project developer, majority shareholder of AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC
General customer and investor of the project, incorporated on December 13, 2010 in Ankara pursuant to the Intergovernmental Agreement for the purposes of Akkuyu NPP construction, operation and decommissioning.
Supplier of nuclear fuel for Akkuyu NPP
Technical customer, provides audit of design and cost estimate documentation.
(part of Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division)
General designer of Akkuyu NPP, carries out development of project and detailed design documents, designer's supervision over the construction of NPP, design and survey work for NPP construction and modernization, and provides technical support for NPP operation.
General designer of the Akkuyu NPP reactor plant
Scientific supervisor
Licensing consultant
Contractor for the construction of part of the Akkuyu NPP facilities, including associated engineering and equipment supplies
Main contractor for the construction of the first start-up complex, including main facilities of Unit 1, and all associated buildings and facilities necessary to ensure reliable operation of the unit
A modern Russian technology solution based on the multi-decade experience of operating VVER-type reactor units. The total capacity of the four reactors will equal 4,800 MW.
With all four units commissioned, Akkuyu NPP is expected to generate
around 35 billion kWh per year
This amount is enough to cover 90% of the electricity needs of a large city like Istanbul.
Akkuyu NPP will secure up to 10% power demand of the Republic of Türkiye.
lifetime
with the possibilityof extension
for another 20 years
The Akkuyu NPP project meets all modern requirements of the world nuclear community, specified in the safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, and the requirements of the Club of European Operating Organizations (EUR).
All activities under the project are carried out by Rosatom State Corporation and AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC in coordination with:
- Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye;
- Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Türkiye (NDK);
- Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK);
- other specialized agencies of the Republic of Türkiye,
PERSONNEL
TRAINING
The parties to the project are actively developing their cooperation on the training of Turkish personnel for the future NPP.
The target program for the training of Akkuyu NPP operating personnel was initiated in 2011 in fulfillment of the Intergovernmental Agreement which provides, inter alia, for training and retraining of specialists from among citizens of the Republic of Türkiye. The costs of training specialists are covered by the Russian side.
Turkish students receive education at National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhI), Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) and National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute (NRU MPEI), and undertake internships at Russian NPPs.
Altogether from 2011 to 2023, around 300 specialists from Türkiye completed training under the program: 244 have graduated from MEPhI, and 72 more are SPbPU graduates. In March 2022, 24 students from Türkiye, who were enrolled in the Akkuyu NPP specialist training program in 2015, successfully completed the program, three of them receiving diplomas with distinction. In 2021/2022 academic year, another 24 Turkish students were enrolled for master’s studies in Russia. In 2023, 53 bachelor graduates from Turkish universities successfully passed admission examination to continue their study at NRNU MEPhI and NRU MPEI.
From 2021/2022 academic year, the "Introduction to Nuclear Energy" course is included in the curriculum of seven vocational high schools in Mersin. The academic course was approved by the Council for Education and Discipline of the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye. The course textbook was developed by specialists of AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC with the support of the Ministry of National Education and teachers of specialized departments of universities of the Republic of Türkiye.
