Newsletters
Türkiye is moving forward with nuclear energy talks, seeking a binding proposal from South Korea for the planned Sinop plant while exploring small modular reactor cooperation with France, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
Bayraktar said Ankara expects Seoul and Korea Electric Power Corporation to submit a formal proposal that could launch negotiations over the Black Sea project. The government aims to reach a decision within the year once the proposal clarifies the project’s framework, he added.
The document would help determine whether talks could progress toward an agreement or whether the parties might fail to find common ground at an early stage, the minister told Bloomberg.
The Sinop facility would become Türkiye’s second nuclear power plant after the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin, where the first reactor is expected to come online this year.
Bayraktar also said officials held talks with Electricite de France (EDF) during a visit to the country earlier this week, where collaboration on small modular reactors was among the topics discussed. According to Bayraktar, the sides may sign a memorandum of understanding on SMR technology, though discussions remain in the early stages.
During the same visit, Bayraktar met Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to discuss energy cooperation. He said Türkiye offered to provide services using its floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). Under the proposal, the sides could jointly purchase natural gas, regasify it at Turkish facilities and deliver it to Ukraine through existing pipeline connections.
Bayraktar added that additional investment would be required to expand the capacity of pipelines linking Türkiye with Europe to support such transfers.
Bayraktar also pointed to growing cooperation with the United States in the energy sector. He said state companies Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Botas are considering acquiring exploration assets in the U.S. as part of broader cooperation.
Türkiye has already signed agreements covering more than 150 billion cubic meters of long-term natural gas purchases and exploration of unconventional oil and gas resources in the Diyarbakir region, he said. Future partnerships could also extend to projects in third countries, including Libya, Syria, Iraq and Kazakhstan.
Addressing reports of a $500 billion "strategic energy plan" with the U.S, Bayraktar said the confirmed agreements currently total at least $50 billion, though the projects involved could reach higher values if implemented.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
