- Turkey is negotiating with the US to develop large-scale nuclear reactors and SMRs to diversify its energy mix and reduce dependency.
- Although Turkey currently lacks operational nuclear power plants, the Akkuyu plant, developed by Russia’s Rosatom, is under construction and set to meet about 10% of the country’s energy needs by 2028.
- Turkey’s ambitious nuclear energy plans include negotiations with various countries for additional plants, highlighting its commitment to expanding nuclear energy usage.
Turkey is currently in talks with the US for the development of large scale nuclear reactors as well as SMRs. Although Turkey does not have an operational nuclear power plant, there are several negotiations with other nations for their development. Turkey looks to diversify their energy mix and has ambitious goals to expand on the use of nuclear power.
Negotiations between Turkey and the US on the development of nuclear power plants have been advancing as Turkey looks to diversify their energy mix. The implementation of both large scale nuclear power plants and SMRs (small modular reactors) have been expressed by Yusuf Ceylan, a senior Turkish Energy Ministry official. Jeff Flake, the US ambassador to Turkey, exclaims that their negotiations are aimed to not only assist the development of SMRs in Turkey but to also “to try and lessen their dependency”. Turkey and the US consideration to develop nuclear energy not only diversifies the Turkish energy mix but also strengthens Turkish independence.
Despite the fact that Turkey does not have an operational nuclear power plant, the country has one under construction in Akkuyu and plans to develop several more. The Akkuyu nuclear power plant, developed by Russia’s Rosatom, will be Turkey’s first nuclear power plant. This 4800 MW plant is set to begin operation as soon as 2028 and once operational is expected to meet about 10% of the country’s energy needs. The country has negotiations with various other countries for the development of other nuclear plants such as South Korea and Russia’s development of Turkey’s second nuclear power plant in Sinop and China’s nuclear power plant development in Thrace. Turkey’s intent to utilize nuclear energy to diversify their energy mix is prevalent in their negotiations with other countries for the development of nuclear reactors.
Turkey is currently in talk with the US to develop nuclear power plants, aiming to diversify their energy mix and reduce dependency. Despite not having an operational nuclear power plant, Turkey has ambition to expand on the use of nuclear energy, as shown by the construction of the Akkuyu plant and negotiations with other countries for additional plants.
