Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Monday that Russia has provided new financing worth $9 billion for Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built by Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom, adding that Ankara expects the plant to be put into operation in 2026, Reuters and Birgun newspaper reported, BTA reported.
„Rosatom“ is building Turkey's first nuclear power plant near the city of Akkuyu, in the Mediterranean province of Mersin, under a 2010 agreement, Reuters recalls. The plant was expected to be put into operation this year, but due to delays, this has not yet happened.
“This funding will most likely be used in 2026-2027. At least $4-5 billion of it will be used as external financing in 2026“, Bayraktar commented at a briefing in Istanbul, quoted by “Birgun“.
The Turkish energy minister also stressed that Turkey is in talks with South Korea, China, Russia and the United States for nuclear projects in the Black Sea province of Sinop and in the northwestern part of the country. “We are also continuing our talks with China and Russia regarding these plants. Our goal is for the negotiations (with all these countries) to lead to the signing of agreements in 2026, and we will strive to receive the most competitive offer,“ Bayraktar added.