Localization Volume Reaches $10 Billion at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

Speaking during a visit to the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant site, Çiftçi stated that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant represents Türkiye's most significant breakthrough in the nuclear industry. He said, "The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is one of Türkiye's most strategic steps toward energy independence. It is the largest single-use direct investment project in the history of the Republic. When all four units are commissioned, it has the potential to meet 10 percent of our country's energy needs alone."

"Experiences from Akkuyu will be used in Sinop and Thrace"

Çiftçi stated that Türkiye plans to build two nuclear power plants in Sinop and Thrace.

Evaluating the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources' 2053 carbon neutrality target in terms of nuclear energy, Çiftçi said:

As part of its carbon neutrality target for 2053, our country has set a 20 gigawatt capacity target for nuclear energy. Approximately 15 gigawatts of this capacity will be provided by conventional nuclear power plants, namely Akkuyu or the subsequent Sinop and Thrace nuclear power plants. The remaining 5 gigawatts are expected to be provided by small modular reactors, which fall within the scope of next-generation nuclear reactors. At this point, our industry's experience and journey, which began with the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, will be carried forward with next-generation nuclear reactors. We will be using the knowledge, experience, and know-how we gained at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in the Sinop, Thrace, and small modular reactors as well.

Citing the direct and indirect employment benefits of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, Çiftçi said, "The localization share of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has reached approximately $10 billion. More than 2,000 companies are working at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. These are significant figures. They demonstrate the significant potential of our country's nuclear industry. We may be able to leverage this experience to become an exporter in the nuclear industry in the coming period."

Çiftçi stated that the trend towards nuclear energy has increased worldwide in recent years, and that countries' goals of ensuring energy supply security and carbon neutrality have brought the global investment trend to this area.

"It is possible to become an exporter of nuclear energy"

Çiftçi stated that nuclear energy is of critical importance in combating the climate crisis, and said:

We are once again emphasizing the importance of nuclear energy in ensuring our country's energy supply security and independence, and in introducing next-generation technologies to our country. Currently, some of our domestic industrial companies manufacturing equipment for the nuclear industry have become exporters. Having gained this experience and assumed this role with the first power plant, our domestic industry is quite likely to become an exporter in new areas such as second and third power plants and small modular reactors. We possess significant potential for this. As domestic industrialists and businesspeople, we want to once again highlight the importance of the nuclear industry.

Reporter: Gazete Enerji