Konstantin Zaytsev, Vice Chairman of Energy Committee of State Duma

– The signing of the inter-governmental agreement will raise Russian-Turkish relations to a new level

On Aug 6 2009 Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko and Acting Director of the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (Turkiye Atom Enerjisi Kurumu, TAEK) Zafer Alper signed two inter-governmental agreements: an agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and an agreement for early notification of nuclear accident and exchange of information on nuclear facilities. The agreements were signed in the framework of the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Turkey.

The signing of the inter-governmental agreement between Russia and Turkey will raise Russian-Turkish relations to a new level. Turkey has very ambitious plans to develop nuclear energy. And the construction of nuclear power plants is not the only project Turkey has in mind. The agreement is paving the way for a whole number of joint projects in the fields of nuclear research, development of uranium infrastructure. By signing this agreement Turkey has shown that Russia will be its key partner in developing nuclear energy. For the moment the parties have agreed to cooperate for 10 years but it is obvious that they will cooperate for decades. Turkey has been obviously impressed with our scientific and technological capacities. NPP-206 project is not worse but is much cheaper than its foreign analogues. Now that the global crisis has forced most of the countries to economize their money, the Russian nuclear technologies have become a panacea for the states wishing to diversify their energy baskets and to develop nuclear energy.

In 2007 the Turkish authorities decided to diversify the country’s energy sector and to develop nuclear energy (NPPs in Akkuyu in Antalia and in Sinop, Black Sea shore).

In Mar 2008 Turkey announced a tender for the right to build its first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu on “build-own-operate” terms. The potential supplier should ensure financing, construction and operation, while Turkey – licensing and guaranteed purchase of electric energy for 15 years till the end of 2030.

A consortium of Russian Atomstroyexport, Inter RAO UES and Turkish Park Teknik offered to build four 1,200MW reactors and to sell its energy at a fixed price for 15 years and at a market price afterwards. The 1st unit is supposed to be launched in 2016, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th units in 2017, 2018 and 2019. 

The Consortium’s NPP-2006 project was approved by TAEK Dec 19 2009.