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Türkiye will hold talks with Canadian nuclear companies and local suppliers in the coming weeks as it evaluates CANDU reactor technology for planned nuclear power projects, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Wednesday.
The meetings come as the government reviews technology options and international partnerships for future reactors planned in Sinop and the Thrace region, while also exploring small modular reactor technologies as part of its goal of reaching 20 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2050.
Bayraktar announced the plans during a visit to Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, where he examined the Canadian-designed CANDU reactor technology that has drawn growing interest from Turkish officials in recent months.
"We had the opportunity to see two reactors built with CANDU technology in Romania, a neighboring country with which we have very good relations," Bayraktar said.
The minister noted that Türkiye is looking for nuclear technology that combines competitive costs with high safety standards while also offering comprehensive solutions for nuclear waste management and fuel supply.
Alongside ongoing discussions with China, which have been underway for years, Ankara has recently intensified work with South Korea and has increasingly focused on Canadian nuclear technology in recent months, he added.
Türkiye's first nuclear power plant at Akkuyu is moving closer to operation, with final testing and commissioning work underway at Unit 1. Authorities aim to begin generating electricity from the reactor by the end of 2026, while construction continues on the plant's remaining three units.
Once fully operational, the four-reactor facility will have a total installed capacity of 4.8 GW.
During his trip to Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, Bayraktar also met Turkish businesspeople and members of the Turkish community in Romania.
Addressing attendees, he highlighted their contribution to Romania's economy and their role in advancing relations between the two countries, while pledging continued support from Turkish institutions for citizens living abroad.
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