Leonid Bolshov, Director of Institute of problems of safe development of nuclear power sector:

 — It was anything but simple because there were NATO and EU – a lot of reasons by which this agreement wouldn’t have been signed.

On July 14 the Turkish parliament ratified the Russian-Turkish agreement on construction of the first NPP in the country. The agreement was signed on May 12, 2010 in Ankara. Russia and Turkey will hereunder cooperate in the field of construction and operation of the NPP in Akkuyu in south Mersin province. After entry of this agreement into effect the Russian party will start the project campaign. The future NPP capacity is expected to be 4800 mW that is equal to 14% of todays capacity generated by Turkey

Leonid Bolshov, Director of Institute of problems of safe development of nuclear power sector:

It’s a very long-expected victory. There was enthusiasm but less confidence in successful completion. The more so as the competition at the world market is stiff. So we’ve managed at last to put a period to this matter. It was anything but simple because there were NATO and EU – a lot of reasons by which this agreement wouldn’t have been signed.

And this is apart from the fact that together with us 5 more strong players of the world market participated in the tender. The work was carried out at all levels, I mean not only Rosatom employees. Even the country administration had to take part in negotiations of various kinds. This massive campaign was crowned with success – the first Turkish NPP will be constructed by the instrumentality of Russian nuclear scientists.

And it’s not only our victory. It’s very good for Turkey either. Having all these problems with natural energy sources they understand there, in Turkey that nuclear power industry has its own great advantages — transportation, taxes, economy, cheaper electric power, clean resort zones.