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The physical and energized launch of the first unit of Türkiye’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled for 2026, the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom said, according to Russian news agency Tass.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said construction of the plant in Mersin’s Gulnar district has continued despite severe disruptions caused by international sanctions imposed on Russia.
“We are targeting next year,” Likhachev said in response to a question about the timeline.
Likhachev said the Akkuyu project has been among those most affected by sanctions, citing the breakdown of payment systems and the refusal of some suppliers to deliver equipment despite contracts being fulfilled.
He specifically named Germany’s Siemens, saying equipment that had already been manufactured and paid for was not delivered to the project.
As a result, Rosatom turned to alternative suppliers from what Likhachev described as “friendly countries,” while also seeking new financing mechanisms.
He said about $2 billion in frozen funds had not been returned, forcing the company to find ways to route financing directly to Turkish contractors and suppliers involved in the project.
“A huge number of Turkish companies and workers are involved in this construction,” Likhachev said, adding that no other Rosatom project had faced such extensive sanctions-related challenges.
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Despite the difficulties, Likhachev said Rosatom is continuing efforts to ensure the first unit becomes operational in 2026.
Meanwhile, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said earlier in October that the first reactor at Akkuyu is scheduled to begin electricity production in 2026.
“The first unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to start electricity generation in 2026, which will be a historic milestone in our energy diversification,” Bayraktar said in October.
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is being built under a 2010 intergovernmental agreement between Türkiye and Russia.
The facility 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.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to meet about 10% of Türkiye’s electricity demand. It is designed for a 60-year operating life, with a possible 20-year extension.
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