Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is a four-unit nuclear energy project built in Gülnar district of Mersin. The intergovernmental agreement signed between Türkiye and Russia on May 12, 2010 constitutes the basic legal framework of the project. It is planned to use a VVER-1200 type pressurized water reactor in each of the four units.
Where is Akkuyu NPP?
The power plant site is on the Mediterranean coast, within the borders of Gülnar district of Mersin province. Location selection; It is a process in which many topics such as earthquake, geology, meteorology, water resource, population and environmental conditions are examined together. For a nuclear facility, site characteristics are also an input into design and emergency planning.
How many reactors and how much power?
The project includes four VVER-1200 units. The electrical power of each unit is announced as approximately 1,200 MW, and the total installed power is approximately 4,800 MW. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources foresees an annual electricity production of approximately 35 TWh if the four units are completed.
VVER is a family of pressurized water reactors in which water is used both as a coolant and as a medium to slow down neutrons. Hot and high-pressure water in the reactor circuit creates steam in a separate secondary circuit. The steam turbine produces electricity by turning the generator.
What does build-own-operate model mean?
The Akkuyu project is internationally known as the "build-own-operate" model, or build-own-operate model in Turkish. In the IAEA's report on Türkiye's regulatory infrastructure, the project company's construction, operation and dismantling of the facility is explained in this context. This commercial model does not eliminate the need to be subject to nuclear safety legislation and NDK inspection in Türkiye.
What stages are there from construction to operation?
Completing the concrete and equipment installation of a unit does not alone mean that electricity production has started. The main stages are:
- Completion of the assembly of systems and components
- Cold and hot function tests
- Permissions required for fuel loading and commissioning
- Low power physics tests
- Gradual power upgrade and grid connection
- Verification of operating conditions by the regulatory body
In calendar descriptions, the terms “first electricity,” “connection to the grid,” and “commercial operation” may describe different milestones.
Who oversees security?
Licensing and regulatory supervision of nuclear facilities in Türkiye are the responsibility of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. The operating organization is primarily responsible for ensuring safety; The regulatory body determines the requirements, evaluates the applications and carries out inspections. This separation of roles is one of the basic principles of nuclear security management.
Resources
- T.R. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Nuclear Energy: https://www.enerji.gov.tr/bilgi-merkezi-enerji-nukleer-enerji
- Nuclear Regulatory Authority: https://www.ndk.gov.tr/
- IAEA, IRRS Mission to Türkiye: https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-missions/final_irrs_report_turkiye.pdf