Türkiye's work in the field of nuclear energy continues in line with its goals of strengthening energy supply security and reducing foreign dependency. The financing cooperation agreement signed with South Korea stands out as one of the important steps taken in Türkiye's nuclear energy journey.
COOPERATION WITH SOUTH KOREA IN THE FIELD OF NUCLEAR
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at the joint press conference with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, "The memorandum of understanding signed between the Turkish Nuclear Energy Company and the Korean Electric Power Corporation constitutes an important basis for our cooperation." he said.
AKKUYU WILL ALONE MEET 10 PERCENT OF Türkiye'S ELECTRICITY NEED
441 nuclear reactors are in operation in 32 countries in the world, and 53 nuclear reactors are under construction in 17 countries. Akkuyu is one of them. While the electricity produced in nuclear power plants corresponds to approximately 10% of the world's electricity supply, Akkuyu will meet 10 percent of Türkiye's electricity needs.
BERAT ALBAYRAK SHAPED THE NUCLEAR VISION
During his term as the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Berat Albayrak stated that he had a target of commissioning three nuclear power plants by 2030 and drew up Türkiye's nuclear energy vision.
When Berat Albayrak was the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; He started the seeds of the steps Türkiye would take in nuclear energy towards energy independence with these words:
"Nuclear energy will play a very important role in Türkiye's supply security in terms of both capacity and efficiency. Thanks to nuclear power plants, we will produce uninterrupted electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of climate and seasonal conditions."
"65 YEARS OF DREAM: NUCLEAR ENERGY"
The critical moves that paved the way for Türkiye's energy independence were featured with striking narratives in the book "This Is Very Important", written by Berat Albayrak, who served as the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
In the section of the book titled "65 Years of Dream: Nuclear Energy", Minister Albayrak clearly stated his determined stance on nuclear energy and emphasized the efficiency of nuclear energy.
Here are the notable expressions:
1. Türkiye's nuclear journey, which started with the late Adnan Menderes in 1956, was always blocked and postponed. He encountered serious resistance. The whole world has been doing these projects for 70 years. If a technology that has been 'halal' for everyone for years is called 'haram' for Türkiye, it means there is something wrong and we need to stop and think about it.
2. Why do those who organize protests and stir up trouble citing security concerns do not take action against the great threat posed to our region and the world by the Armenian Metzamor power plant, which is only 16 kilometers away from our border, although it completed its technical life in 2005 with its old generation technology built in 1977?
3. No matter what different lobbies say, it is essential for Türkiye to have nuclear power. During my ministry period, we paved the way for projects without making any concessions on this issue, and thankfully, today we are proudly watching the construction in Akkuyu. Hopefully, electricity production will start in 2023.
Minister Albayrak: Nuclear energy will take Türkiye to the next level
4. Today, France obtains nearly 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. We cannot ignore these and turn our country into a mere spectator of such an important technology with populist rhetoric.
5. Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGP) project was brought to the agenda in the 70s, but it remained suspended and could not be completed due to many obstacles. In 1974, the suitability of the Akkuyu land in Mersin's Gülnar district for a nuclear power plant was accepted. After many years, signatures were signed between Türkiye and Russia in 2010 for the construction of the power plant.
6. We created the legislation and organizational infrastructure and accelerated the process. We completed the legal preparations, necessary approvals and bureaucratic processes immediately. Very important progress was made during my ministry period with the issuance of the electricity generation license in June 2017 and the issuance of the construction permit in October 2017. With these steps, the way for the project was paved and the obstacles that had stood in the way of construction for decades were removed. In April 2018, the groundbreaking ceremony of the first power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was held with the participation of the heads of state of the two countries. A 65-year dream has become a reality.
7. The power plant will have an installed power capacity of 4,800 MW. With its annual electricity production of 35 billion kWh, it will meet ten percent of our country's electrical energy needs. The project will be the largest project ever undertaken throughout the history of our Republic, with an investment cost of 20 billion dollars. In other words, it is a very large and very important investment for our country, whose economy and industry are growing rapidly every year. It will meet not only the energy we need, but also the energy needs of our future generations.
AKKUYU NPP ELECTRICITY IS COMING
Hydraulic tests carried out to check the durability of the second circuit equipment in the 1st power unit of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGP) have been completed.
In his recent statement, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that electrification will be at the center of the National Energy 2040 Vision, which will be announced on November 5, and said, "We are heading towards a period in which electricity will be used more intensively in all areas of the economy in Türkiye. We will announce a very comprehensive plan that reveals how Türkiye will reach energy independence." he said.
Minister Bayraktar stated that Akkuyu electricity will be used in Türkiye starting from 2027.
