Turkïye’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant received its initial installment of nuclear fuel, and Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Doenmez granted it the status of a nuclear facility, Turkey’s first. It was built by Russia’s Rosatom state nuclear corporation. It is the first of four units that will result in a total energy output capacity of 4,800 megawatts.
Both Turkish President Erdogan and Russian President Putin addressed the ceremony virtually, Erdogan thanking Russia for its work and Putin stressing the advanced technologies with which Rosatom had equipped the plant for safety and efficiency. Putin took the occasion to remind his audience that the planned trade hub in Türkiye for Russian natural gas was also proceeding. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and Rosatom Chief Executive Officer Alexey Likhachev also participated in the ceremony.
