Eurasian Verona Forum: Turkey Announces Start Date for Largest Nuclear Reactor “Akkuyu”
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced that the first reactor at the “Akkuyu” nuclear power plant will begin electricity production in 2026, confirming that the project is proceeding according to the planned schedule. The announcement was made during his participation in the Eurasian Verona Forum held in Istanbul.
The minister explained that the Akkuyu plant, built in Mersin Province in cooperation with Russia, will consist of four VVER-1200 third-generation nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, making it the largest nuclear energy project in Turkey’s history. He added that the commissioning of the first reactor represents a key step toward enhancing energy security and strengthening the country’s electricity infrastructure.
Bayraktar highlighted that cooperation with Russia in this field is strategic and long-term, encompassing technology transfer and workforce training. He also noted that Turkey aims to increase its nuclear energy capacity to 20 gigawatts by 2050. Once fully operational, the Akkuyu plant is expected to supply up to 10% of Turkey’s electricity needs.
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