The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is the first nuclear energy production facility in Türkiye. Located in Büyükeceli, Gülnar district of Mersin province, the project consists of four VVER-1200 type pressurized water reactors, each with a capacity of 1200 megawatts. Implemented under an intergovernmental agreement signed with the Russian Federation in 2010, the plant is designed with multi-layered safety systems in compliance with international standards. Once completed, it is expected to meet approximately ten percent of Türkiye's electricity demand.

^{Installation of the Outer Containment Dome of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant  (AKKUYU NÜKLEER A.Ş)}

Historical Background

The historical background of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant dates back to the 1960s. The idea of nuclear energy production in Türkiye first came to the agenda in 1965 with the studies of the Atomic Energy Commission, and in 1974, Akkuyu and Sinop sites were designated as candidate locations. In 1976, a site license was granted for Akkuyu; however, four project tenders held between 1977 and 2009 remained inconclusive due to economic and political reasons.

The foundation of the current project lies in the intergovernmental agreement signed between Türkiye and Russia on May 12, 2010. In the same year, Akkuyu Nuclear JSC was established, and in 2011, the site was allocated to this company together with the licensing rights. The updated site report was approved in 2013, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) positive decision was issued in 2014, and in 2017, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) granted the electricity generation license.

The construction process began with the construction license for the 1st Power Unit issued on April 2, 2018, followed by the first concrete poured on April 3. From 2019 to 2021, licensing and groundwork activities were carried out for the second, third, and fourth units. In 2022 and 2023, the reactor pressure vessel, inner containment dome, and system installations of the first unit were completed, and on November 21, 2023, the commissioning permit was granted. In the same year, the first nuclear fuel was delivered to the site, and critical construction phases such as the outer containment shell, coastal pumping station, and turbine buildings were carried out. On August 22, 2025, the control assembly of the reactor vessel for the fourth unit was completed at the Atommash facility in Russia.

The project aims to bring all four units into operation by the end of 2028, reaching a total installed capacity of 4800 megawatts and meeting approximately ten percent of Türkiye’s electricity demand.

^{Groundbreaking Ceremony with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, April 3, 2018 (President of Russia, kremlin.ru)}

Reactor Features

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is equipped with Generation III+ VVER-1200 type pressurized water reactors designed by Russia. The reactors operate with a two-loop system; in the primary loop, the pressure is maintained at 16.2 MPa, and boron-enriched demineralized water is heated up to 328.8 °C and circulated with the help of four main circulation pumps.

Approximately 87,460 cubic meters of cooling water per hour pass through the reactor core, transferring the generated heat to steam generators, where steam production occurs in the secondary loop. The steam turbines are semi-speed and highly efficient, with the reported efficiency of the turbine–generator set reaching up to thirty-eight percent.

The plant’s safety system consists of multi-layered solutions such as inner and outer containment shells, prestressed steel tendons, a passive heat removal system, an emergency core cooling system, an emergency boron injection system, and hydrogen removal mechanisms. One of the key passive safety components is the “core catcher,” weighing 144 tons; in the event of a meltdown accident, it prevents the spread of core material beyond the containment structure.

Technical Specifications of the Plant

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to consist of four units in total, with a combined installed capacity of 4800 megawatts. The plant’s infrastructure includes auxiliary systems such as cooling machinery buildings, coastal pumping stations, and compressor facilities, which provide essential technical water supply, air-conditioning, and compressed air support required for reactor operation. During the construction process, engineering solutions such as prestressed steel tendons, high-strength concrete, and special crane systems were employed, ensuring the facility achieved a level of reliability in compliance with international standards.

^{Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (AKKUYU NÜKLEER A.Ş)}

Project Chronology

• 2010: On May 12, an intergovernmental agreement was signed between Türkiye and Russia; on December 13, Akkuyu Nuclear JSC was established.
• 2011: The Akkuyu site was allocated to the Project Company together with the site license.
• 2013: The updated site report was approved.
• 2014: A positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision was issued.
• 2017: The Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) granted the electricity generation license.
• 2018: On April 2, a construction license was issued for Unit 1; on April 3, the first concrete was poured.
• 2019: A construction license was issued for Unit 2, and the foundation was laid.
• 2020: A construction license was issued for Unit 3, and the foundation was laid.
• 2021: A construction license was issued for Unit 4, and the foundation was laid.
• 2022–2023: The reactor pressure vessel, inner containment dome, and system installations of Unit 1 were completed.
• November 21, 2023: A commissioning permit was granted for Unit 1; fresh nuclear fuel arrived at the site.
• 2024: The outer containment shell of Unit 1 was installed; the turbine system and supporting structures were assembled.
• February–March 2025: The backup diesel generator and main circulation pumps of Unit 1 were activated; the shared desalination facility was commissioned.
• June 11, 2025: Idle tests of the electric motors at Unit 1’s coastal pumping station were completed.
• July 30, 2025: Wall concreting works of the turbine building of Unit 3 were completed.
• August 22, 2025: The control assembly of the reactor pressure vessel for Unit 4 was carried out at the Atommash facility in Russia.
• 2028: All units are planned to be commissioned, reaching a total installed capacity of 4800 MW.

Legal and Social Dimensions

The project has contributed to the development of legal regulations concerning nuclear energy in Türkiye. Within the scope of the project, cooperation is carried out with the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Akkuyu NPP has significantly influenced the economic and social life of the region. During the construction process, employment opportunities have been created for the local population, and various academic programs have been launched for the training of plant personnel.