Alexander Perov, senior expert of National Energy Security Foundation

– These agreements are a very good basis for expansion into new sales market

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.

Turkey is a new region for the Russian nuclear power industry. As far as I know, our nuclear power engineers have never worked in that country – even in the Soviet times. So, the signing of these agreements is a breakthrough, a very good basis for our nuclear power engineers to enter the markets they have never been before. Our nuclear industry is one of the few sectors where we can offer really competitive technologies. So, these agreements are a big achievement and advantage for us.

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.