Newsletters
Akkuyu Nuclear AS Chairperson Anton Dedusenko said Thursday that 2026 is expected to be the commissioning year for the first unit of Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Moscow, Dedusenko said the main equipment at the first unit has been installed, while construction and assembly work continue simultaneously at the second, third and fourth units.
“The gas-insulated switchgear is a crucial stage. This means we are preparing the plant to supply electricity,” he said, adding that key systems have been installed, energized and successfully tested.
Dedusenko noted that although Siemens did not deliver the gas-insulated switchgear system it had committed to provide, Rosatom quickly arranged an alternative supply through cooperation with Chinese partners and Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.
He said the system is essential for transmitting electricity to Türkiye’s national grid and confirmed that voltage from the Turkish energy system has already been applied, with automation systems functioning properly.
Dedusenko described Akkuyu NPP as one of Türkiye’s largest direct foreign investments, highlighting its impact on the regional and national economy.
He said localization, tax revenues and the participation of Turkish companies have generated an estimated $11 billion in economic value.
Around 2,000 Turkish companies have taken part in the project so far, with 350 currently under contract.
Dedusenko said 300 Turkish engineers have completed nuclear education programs at leading universities in Moscow, with another 300 students set to join the program, including at Kazan University.
“These engineers will later train others in Türkiye, showing Akkuyu’s impact on the country’s education and engineering sectors,” he said.
Despite financial challenges, including frozen funds abroad, Dedusenko said work continued across all four units throughout 2025.
He stressed that once the first commissioning complex becomes operational, it will support all remaining units, with preparations ongoing to supply electricity to the grid next year.
Dedusenko also underlined the growing importance of small modular reactors, noting that more than 70 low-power nuclear reactor projects are under construction globally.
He said Rosatom is a leader in this field and that Türkiye, which has limited sites for large nuclear plants, could benefit from compact and seismically resilient small reactors, both land-based and floating.
“We are in discussions with the Turkish side and ready to offer these solutions,” he said.
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
