Wikipedia

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (Turkish: Akkuyu Nükleer Güç Santrali) is a large nuclear power plant in Turkey under construction in Akkuyu, Büyükeceli, Mersin Province.[3] It is expected to generate around 10% of the country's electricity when completed.[4] The official launch ceremony took place in April 2015.[5]

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
Map
Official nameAkkuyu Nükleer Güç Santrali A.Ş.
CountryTurkey
LocationAkkuyu, Mersin
Coordinates36°08′40″N 33°32′28″E / 36.14444°N 33.54111°E / 36.14444; 33.54111
StatusUnder construction
Construction beganDecember 2017[1]
Construction costUS$24-25 billion[2]
OwnerAkkuyu NGS Elektrik Üretim A.Ş.
Operator
Nuclear power station
Reactor typeGen III+ PWR
Reactor supplierAtomstroyexport
Cooling sourceMediterranean Sea
Thermal capacity4 × 3200 MWth (planned)
Power generation
Make and model4 x VVER-1200/509
Units under const.4 × 1114 MW
Nameplate capacity4456 MW (planned)
External links
Websitewww.akkunpp.com
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

In May 2010, Russia and Turkey signed an agreement that a subsidiary of Rosatom would build, own, and operate a power plant in Akkuyu comprising four 1,200 MWe VVER1200 units. Construction of the first reactor commenced in April 2018.[6] In February 2013, Russian nuclear construction company Atomstroyexport (ASE) and Turkish construction company Özdoğu signed the site preparation contract for the proposed Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. The contract includes excavation work at the site.[7]

It is expected to be the first build–own–operate nuclear power plant in the world.[8][9]

History

edit

In May 2010, Russia and Turkey signed an agreement that a subsidiary of Rosatom — Akkuyu NGS Elektrik Uretim Corp. (APC: Akkuyu Project Company) — would build, own, and operate a power plant at Akkuyu comprising four 1,200 MW VVER units.[10] The agreement was ratified by the Turkish Parliament in July 2010.[11] Engineering and survey work started at the site in 2011.[12][13]

In 2013, Russian nuclear construction company Atomstroyexport (ASE) and Turkish construction company Ozdogu signed the site preparation contract for the proposed Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The contract includes excavation work at the site.[14]

 
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant ground-breaking ceremony on 3 April 2018, Ankara

The official launch ceremony took place in April 2015.[15]

 
Turkey seismic hazard map

On 9 December 2015, the news agency Reuters reported that Rosatom stopped construction work at the power plant and that Turkey was assessing other potential candidates for the project.[16] But Rosatom and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resource Ministry promptly refuted the statement.[17] Despite tensions mounted between Russia and Turkey, due to the Turkish downing of a Russian fighter jet on 24 November (2015), Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the decision to continue is purely a commercial one.[18] A source told RIA Novosti that the company set up to construct the nuclear plant continued its operations in Turkey.[19]

Major construction started in March 2018.[20] In March 2019, the concrete basemat of unit 1 had been completed.[21]

Construction of the second unit started on 26 June 2020.[22] Steam generators for unit 1 were completed by Atommash later in August to be shipped to Turkey.[23] Around the same time, a core melt trap for unit 2 to contain a nuclear meltdown arrived at Akkuyu to be placed in the plant.[24] GE Steam Power is supplying four Arabelle steam turbines manufactured at Belfort, France, for the project, the first in January 2021.[25]

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant's Construction Organization Director is Denis Sezemin.[26]

The first unit was expected to become operational in 2023,[20][27] but in 2022 Rosatom was having difficulty obtaining equipment from third countries.[28] It is expected to become operational in October 2024.[29][needs update]The other three units are expected to be completed by 2026.[20] The nuclear plant was inaugurated on 27 April 2023 with the delivery of the first nuclear fuel to the plant site.[30]

In 2024, Turkish authorities announced the arrest of a Russian employee of the plant on suspicion of being a member of the Islamic State and living under false identity papers.[31]

Economics

edit

Financing is provided by Russian investors, with 93% from a Rosatom subsidiary. Up to 49% of shares may be sold later to other investors.[32]

Turkish Electricity Trade and Contract Corporation (TETAS) has guaranteed the purchase of 70% power generated from the first two units and 30% from the third and fourth units over a 15-year power purchase agreement. Electricity will be purchased at a price of 12.35 US cents per kW·h and the remaining power will be sold in the open market by the producer.[33][unreliable source?]According to energy analysts this price is high.[34][35]

According to President Erdoğan nuclear power will make the country more economically independent.[36] Although it will be technically possible to ramp power up and down, because fuel is a small part of the cost and operating costs remain the same there is almost no economic benefit in load-following, therefore nuclear is expected to supply baseload power.[37] For baseload power levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and Value-Added LCOE (VALCOE) are the same.[37] In 2020 Shura Energy Center forecast that for nuclear power that will be 80-85 USD/MWh in 2040.[38]

Operator liability is limited to 700 million euros, and above that will be the responsibility of the Nuclear Damage Detection Commission.[39]

Flexibility

edit

The minimum load for the plant is expected to be 50%. In normal operation power output could be decreased at 1% of the reactor’s nominal capacity per minute and increased at 3% per minute. In case of grid emergencies, these rates can increase to 20% and 5% respectively.[40] However, "load following mode generates more radioactive waste as a result of adjusting the coolant level and concentration of boric acid in the reactor".[40] The plant is instead expected to provide baseload power.[41]

Objections

edit
 
Construction area of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, Gülnar, Mersin

One objection is that Büyükeceli and the surrounding coastline may lose its touristic potential after the realization of the project.[42] However, the president of the township's commercial counsel Alper Gürsoy also added that nuclear energy is necessary for Turkey's economy and that the construction of such a large plant may benefit the town economically.[43]

In 2011, a human chain was formed in Mersin to protest the decision.[44][45]

In 2015, it was reported that the signatures of specialists on a government-sanctioned environmental impact report had been forged. The specialists had resigned six months prior to its submission, and the contracting company had then made unilateral changes to the report.[46] The revelation sparked protest in North Nicosia. The construction of the Akkuyu plant is controversial in Cyprus, because it is close to the island.[47]

It has been suggested that the plant will affect Russia–Turkey relations by prolonging Turkey's dependence on Russian energy, beyond natural gas.[9] It has been suggested that there is a risk of algal blooms.[9] It has been suggested that spent fuel pools are at risk of military action or terrorism.[48]

Reactor data

edit
Unit Type / Model Capacity Construction start Operation start Notes
Akkuyu 1 VVER V-509 1114 MW 2018 2025[49] (planned) [50]
Akkuyu 2 VVER V-509 1114 MW 2020[51] 2026 (planned) [52]
Akkuyu 3 VVER V-509 1114 MW 2021[53] 2027 (planned)[54][55]
Akkuyu 4 VVER V-509 1114 MW 2022[56] 2028 (planned)[57]

Expected lifetime is 60 years and after that a 20 year extension may be possible.[41] Expected annual generation is 35 billion kWh when complete.[41]

When operating at full power about one million cubic meters of cooling water per hour will be used and returned to Akkuyu Bay.[9]

A megatsunami like that caused by the Minoan eruption could reach the reactors.[9] In case that or another event caused a meltdown there are core catchers, which are traps below the pressure vessels to catch and cool anything which falls out.[9] The site was undamaged by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.[58]

Regulation

edit
This section is an excerpt from Nuclear power in Turkey § Regulation and policy.[edit]

In 2007 a bill concerning construction and operation of nuclear power plants and the sale of their electricity was passed by parliament. It also addresses waste management and decommissioning, providing for a National Radioactive Waste Account and a Decommissioning Account, which generators will pay into progressively.[59]

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recommended "enacting a law on nuclear energy which establishes an independent regulatory body and putting a national policy in place that covers a wide range of issues, as well as further developing the required human resources".[60]

In 2018, Turkey created the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. It took over most of the duties of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) like issueing licenses and permits to companies operating nuclear energy and ionizing radiation facilities.[61][62] TAEK was renamed as TENMAK, and it is now exclusively liable for the management of radioactive waste.[63] According to a scholar, providing concessions for nuclear power plants via international agreements rather than competitive tenders means such projects cannot be challenged in the constitutional court.[64]

Waste

edit

The spent fuel is high-level waste and will be returned to Russia.[9] As of 2019 all other radioactive waste in Turkey is sent to TENMAK storage in Küçükçekmece designed for low and intermediate level waste.[65] However it was reported in 2022 that low and intermediate level waste will be compressed and stored on site.[66] But it was also reported in 2022 that a site had not been selected.[67][citation needed]

In 2021 parliament passed the bill “Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management” and ratified the Convention on Civil Liability Against Third Parties in the Field of Nuclear Energy.[68] Law 7381 is partly about waste.[69]

See also

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Difiglio, Prof. Carmine; Güray, Bora Şekip; Merdan, Ersin (November 2020). Turkey Energy Outlook. iicec.sabanciuniv.edu (Report). Sabanci University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC). ISBN 978-605-70031-9-5.
  • Artantas, Onur Cagdas (2024). "Türkiye's nuclear energy aspirations: policy challenges and legal trajectory". The Journal of World Energy Law & Business. 17 (3): 201–214. doi:10.1093/jwelb/jwae005.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Akkuyu construction formally starts". World Nuclear News. 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Building Akkuyu NPP in Turkey costs $24-25 bln at current prices - Likhachev". 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Welcome to the site of Akkuyu NPP JSC!". Akkuyu NGS location. Akkuyu NGS A.Ş., akkunpp.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Turkey's nuclear power plant to produce 10% of electricity need". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Smirnov: Akkuyu Nükleer Santral inşaatı 2018'de başlayabilir". World Nuclear News. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Russian plant for Turkey's Akkuyu". World Nuclear News. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Russia And Turkey Sign Akkuyu Site Preparation Contract". NucNet. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  8. ^ "How They Do It: Turkey". 11 February 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "The Akkuyu NPP and Russian-Turkish Nuclear Cooperation: Asymmetries and risks – Ioannis N. Grigoriadis and Eliza R. Gheorghe". ΕΛΙΑΜΕΠ. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Russian plant for Turkey's Akkuyu". World Nuclear News. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Governmental approval for Turkish construction plan". World Nuclear News. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Site work to start for Turkish plant". World Nuclear News. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  13. ^ Ground broken for first nuclear plant amid safety concerns and protests Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Russia And Turkey Sign Akkuyu Site Preparation Contract". NucNet. 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Ground broken for Turkey's first nuclear power plant". World Nuclear News. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Russia halts Turkey nuclear work, Ankara looks elsewhere". Thomson Reuters. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Construction of Turkey's first nuclear plant continues as planned". Daily Sabah. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Russia not to halt Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, Putin says". Daily Sabah. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Akkuyu nuke plant in Turkey to be decided by firms: Putin". Anadolu Agency. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  20. ^ a b c "Russia starts building Turkey's first nuclear power plant". World Nuclear News. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Basemat of Turkey's Akkuyu 1 completed". World Nuclear News. 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Росатом начал заливку бетона второго блока АЭС Аккую в Турции - Минэнерго Турции". Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Steam generators dispatched to Akkuyu unit 1 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Core melt trap arrives for Akkuyu unit 2 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  25. ^ "First turbine module delivered for Akkuyu plant". World Nuclear News. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Denis Sezemin: 'Akkuyu NGS, Türkiye'nin GSYİH'sine 50 milyar dolar katkı sağlayacak'". Gazete Banka Haber. 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Russia to complete Turkish NPP by 2023". Nuclear Engineering International. 26 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  28. ^ Ghosh, Bobby. "Turkey's Neutrality on Ukraine Is Coming at a High Price". The Washington Post.
  29. ^ "Rosatom ships third RPV to Akkuyu". Nuclear Engineering International. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Türkiye gains nuclear status with delivery of 1st nuclear fuel to Akkuyu power plant: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan". TRT. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Turkish police arrest an Islamic State suspect who worked at a nuclear power plant, reports say". Associated Press. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  32. ^ "A case study of a Russian international project: Turkey's Akkuyu project". Nuclear Engineering International. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  33. ^ "The Akkuyu Nuclear Plant: What Exactly is Going On?". turkeywonk.wordpress.com. WordPress.com. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  34. ^ DİRESKENELİ, Haluk (3 January 2020). "Enerji piyasalarında 2020 yılı öngörüleri". Enerji Günlüğü (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  35. ^ Sonmez, Mustafa (15 December 2020). "Critics say Turkey's unfinished nuclear plant already redundant". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  36. ^ "Turkey to begin work on 2 more nuclear power plants: Erdoğan". Daily Sabah. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  37. ^ a b DifiglioGürayMerdan (2020), p. 72.
  38. ^ DifiglioGürayMerdan (2020), p. 69.
  39. ^ "Turkish Parliament Approved Long-Awaited Nuclear Regulation". Turkish Parliament Approved Long-Awaited Nuclear Regulation. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  40. ^ a b "Nuclear Flexibility". Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  41. ^ a b c "Turkey to begin work on 2 more nuclear power plants: Erdoğan". Daily Sabah. 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  42. ^ "Mersin'de Yapılması Planlanan Nükleer Santral" [Making Planned Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin] (in Turkish). Anatolian Agency. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  43. ^ "Mersin'de Yapılması Planlanan Nükleer Santral". June 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  44. ^ "Online news" (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  45. ^ "Hürriyet newspaper English edition". Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  46. ^ "Signatures on nuclear power plant environmental impact report forged". Today's Zaman. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  47. ^ "Lefkoşa'da Nükleer Karşıtı Yürüyüş: 'Akkuyu'da Nükleer En Çok Bizi Etkiler'". Gazeddakıbrıs (in Turkish). 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  48. ^ Lisowski, Eva M. "Hot Mess Next: Missile-Struck Reactors in the Middle East" (PDF).
  49. ^ "Ввод первого блока АЭС Аккую намечен на июль 2025 года". atominfo.ru. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  50. ^ "Akkuyu 1". Power Reactor Information System (PRIS). International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  51. ^ "Росатом начал заливку бетона второго блока АЭС Аккую в Турции - Минэнерго Турции". Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  52. ^ "Akkuyu 2". PRIS. IAEA. 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  53. ^ "Akkuyu 3". Nuclear Engineering International. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  54. ^ "News AKKUYU NÜKLEER A.Ş." www.akkuyu.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  55. ^ "Akkuyu construction to be completed by 2026, says project CEO : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  56. ^ "Work starts on Akkuyu 4 turbine building : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  57. ^ "Akkuyu construction to be completed by 2026, says project CEO : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  58. ^ "Turkey's unfinished Akkuyu nuclear plant not damaged by quake - Rosatom official". Reuters. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023.
  59. ^ "Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries". World Nuclear Association. April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  60. ^ "IAEA Delivers Report on Nuclear Power Development to Turkey".
  61. ^ Aksoy, Tuğba (17 May 2019). "Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority – Energy and Natural Resources – Turkey". mondaq.com. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  62. ^ "Turkey sets up new nuclear regulator – Nuclear Engineering International". Nuclear Engineering International magazine. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  63. ^ "Nuclear Power in Turkey". world-nuclear.org. World Nuclear Association. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  64. ^ Artantas, Onur Cagdas (2024). "Türkiye's nuclear energy aspirations: policy challenges and legal trajectory". The Journal of World Energy Law & Business. 17 (3): 201–214. doi:10.1093/jwelb/jwae005.
  65. ^ "Radioactive waste management in Turkey".
  66. ^ "Waste compactor ready for shipment to Akkuyu : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  67. ^ Bilgilioğlu, Süleyman Sefa (2022). "Site selection for radioactive waste disposal facility by GIS based multi criteria decision making". Annals of Nuclear Energy. 165. Bibcode:2022AnNuE.16508795B. doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108795. S2CID 243841738.
  68. ^ Algedik, Önder (13 October 2021). "New laws to turn Turkey into a nuclear waste dump". Duvar. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  69. ^ "Turkey: Law on Nuclear Power Regulation Adopted". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Akkuyu_Nuclear_Power_Plant&oldid=1258928717"