The issuing of a license to Akkuyu nuclear plant, which is being built in Turkey according to the Russian project, will be decided at a rapid pace, but it is too early to speak about the exact period, Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said Oct. 10 at the 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul, RIA Novosti reported.
“It is still too early to say when the license allowing Akkuyu nuclear plant to generate power, will be ready,” Birol said. “But nuclear power is extremely important for Turkey in terms of reducing our energy dependence, as well as from the point of view of preservation of the environment.”
“Therefore, I think that the matter of the issuance of this license will be addressed at an accelerated pace,” he added. “This concerns both Akkuyu and the nuclear power plant to be built in Sinop according to the Japanese project, however, I cannot mention the exact time so far.”
The intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Turkey on cooperation in construction and operation of the Turkey’s first nuclear power plant Akkuyu near the city of Mersin in southern Turkey was signed in 2010.
The project's cost nears $20 billion. The Akkuyu plant is projected to generate about 35 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year.