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Electricity has been supplied to the gas-insulated switchgear facility that will transmit power from the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS) to Türkiye’s national grid, officials said.
The step marks a critical phase in establishing the plant’s power transmission system as construction continues in Mersin’s Gulnar district.
Andrei Zhukov, First Deputy General Manager and Technical Director of Akkuyu Nuclear JSC, said work is currently focused on the first power unit, where commissioning efforts continue.
He noted that system controls and tests are underway and that main construction works on the unit are largely complete.
Zhukov said activities outside the reactor areas are progressing in parallel and that work in other buildings within the first commissioning complex is nearing completion.
He added that facilities forming the plant’s electrical infrastructure are being gradually brought online, with simultaneous progress across all four power units.
Zhukov confirmed that nominal voltage has been supplied to part of the 400-kilovolt gas-insulated switchgear equipment from the external grid.
“We supplied electricity to the gas-insulated switchgear equipment from the external transmission network. This step constitutes a critical phase in forming the plant’s power transmission system,” he said.
Electricity generated at the Akkuyu NGS units will be delivered to Türkiye’s transmission system through the gas-insulated switchgear facility.
Zhukov said experts had completed all necessary installation and preparation work before energizing the equipment, adding that despite a change in suppliers, readiness was achieved in a short time.
“We continue advancing step by step in line with project requirements,” he added.
Zhukov said progress in the switchgear facility represents an important milestone in the technological chain for commissioning the power unit, reflecting adherence to the project schedule.
The team is “working with maximum effort” to deliver the first kilowatt of electricity from the plant to Türkiye’s national grid, he said.
Akkuyu NGS is being constructed under the intergovernmental agreement signed between Türkiye and Russia on May 12, 2010.
The plant will consist of four VVER-1200 “Generation III+” reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, for a total installed capacity of 4,800 megawatts.
The facility is among Türkiye’s largest investments and is expected to meet 10% of the country’s electricity demand once fully operational.
The plant is designed for a 60-year operating life, with the potential for a 20-year extension.
Akkuyu NGS will generate uninterrupted electricity with zero emissions, contributing to Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero target.
Over its 60-year operation, the plant is estimated to prevent 2.1 billion tons of carbon emissions.
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