Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin during the ceremony of delivering the first nuclear fuel for the first unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) in Turkey via videoconference. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation / TASS
Rosatom specialists ahead of schedulemeeting the wishes of the Turkish side to accelerate the construction of the first in Turkey NPP “Akkuyu” in connection with the centenary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, they made a truly colossal breakthrough: nuclear fuel was delivered to the storage facility.
This is not a regular event. From now on, the construction site is officially transformed into a strategic nuclear facility. From that moment on, the responsibility for the physical security of the plant passes from civil security companies to the power structures of Turkey, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) lists nuclear power plants in the list of nuclear facilities.
The second and third nuclear power plants are just around the corner
Presidents of Russia and Turkey spoke via video link at the fuel delivery ceremony Vladimir Putin And Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
– The Akkuyu NPP is one of the largest investment projects in Russia and the most important joint project of Moscow and Ankara, which allows developing economic and neighboring ties, the Russian leader said. – Turkey will now have its own nuclear power plant, which will provide its electricity needs. We are simultaneously building 4 reactors – this is the largest nuclear power plant in the world. About 300 Turkish students studied nuclear energy with us, a new sector of the economy is being created in Turkey.
Erdogan urged everyone to rejoice at the new big step that Turkey is taking in the development of the country.
A screen depicting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the ceremony. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation / TASS
– We, albeit with a delay of 60 years, but join the club of powers with nuclear energy. On my own behalf and on behalf of our people, I thank Russia and its specialists for this project. The nuclear power plant will not only provide 10% of energy to our country and create new jobs. Our students study in Russia and get a new profession for Turkey. I hope that in the near future, taking into account the experience gained at Akkuyu, we will begin construction of the second and third nuclear power plants in Turkey.
Then the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, handed the Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez a certificate on the transfer of nuclear fuel to the Turkish side, after which the flags of Russia, Turkey and the IAEA were raised at the site. They were lifted by the oldest and youngest participants of the ceremony – those who participated in the laying of the first stone of the Akkuyu NPP.
From remote provinces to bustling cities
Turkish legislation is very strict in terms of nature protection. The builders of “Akkuyu” did not have the right to simply demolish green spaces, forests – all this has to be replanted. They even had to change the relief: about 2 million tons of rocky soil were moved from the mountains and part of the sea was filled up for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Thus, the territory of Turkey has become a little larger.
The scale of construction is amazing: some 10 years ago there was a secluded bay, hidden behind the surrounding mountains. Today there is a whole city of the future with the outlines of cyclopean buildings in a mirror lining sparkling in the sun. This is the first nuclear power plant in the world where four reactors are being built at the same time. An international team works here: Russians, Turks, Belarusians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks and representatives of many other countries. About a hundred Turkish companies are involved in the construction project. The appearance of a nuclear power plant in these parts was a breakthrough not only in the country’s economy. Over the years, the province of Mersin itself has changed incredibly – from the outback, the surrounding nuclear power plants are turning into cities, the population is growing exponentially. The villages, where several hundred inhabitants lived, are now home to thousands of workers and employees of the future station.
Storage of nuclear fuel of the nuclear power plant under construction.
Photo: Alena PALAZHCHENKO
Mayor Gulnar Alprslan Unovar, in whose jurisdiction the nuclear power plant is located, speaks about the rapid changes in his area:
– We have a total of 30 thousand people. And now there are only 30,000 NPP employees. We do not have time to build housing, develop infrastructure. There were traffic jams that no one had ever seen here. But we are working, helping the local population to adapt to changing conditions.
He admits that it was not immediately and not all local residents accepted the news about the neighborhood with a nuclear power plant.
– There were demonstrations of protest, people were afraid that the station would negatively affect health, the environment, destroy crops … But we explain what a nuclear power plant is, arrange excursions to it for them. New jobs appear, people begin to earn good money, local businesses develop, new shops, restaurants, hairdressers open… People began to understand that nuclear power plants are profitable and safe. We have excellent relations with the Russians, we understand each other and help each other,” he says.
Will withstand any disaster
The delivery of fuel is not the commissioning of the reactor, as many people think, says NPP Director Sergei Butskikh:
– According to the agreement, the NPP construction period is 7 years after the license is issued. We received the license in 2018, so we are planning a power launch in 2025,” he says.
The recent devastating earthquake in the south-east of the country, which was also felt in the province of Mersin, could not but give rise to the question of the station’s safety in case of natural and man-made disasters. Sergei Borisovich recalls that when choosing the future site, the most seismically safe region of Turkey was chosen, and even during the recent catastrophic earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 50 thousand people, the nuclear power plant was not damaged.
The scale of construction is amazing.
Photo: Alena PALAZHCHENKO
– We have calculated an extreme earthquake of 9 points, which is impossible in principle, such has not yet been known in the history of mankind. We calculated the equipment for a plane crash, for explosive effects, even for a tsunami. For example, the maximum height of a tsunami in this region is 7 meters, and our protective structures are designed for 12. All the “Fukushima” tests that we have done ensure the safe operation of the station for decades. I can say that today it is the safest station in the world.
“The soul sings!”
We drive around the future station, stopping at the main facilities: a pumping station, laboratories and today’s pride – a mirror storage of fresh fuel. Station employee Andrey, who accompanies a group of journalists, sprinkles terms and names, inserting through the word “the only one in the world”, “unique”, “there is nothing like it anywhere else”. Hundreds of Turkish workers are scurrying about in the pits bristling with rebar. Suddenly, in the depths of the bottomless pit, a rollicking sound is heard: “Eh-haaaa!” The cry is picked up by sleepy tinned throats – and a jubilant roar rushes over the station.
– It’s the guys who rejoice – we have such arbitrary outbursts of good mood several times a day, – a Turkish worker in a fiery yellow vest explains with a laugh. – You know, it works well, easily, we ourselves see what we are building, and the soul begins to sing!
There is a “guest point” at the station, from where the entire construction site is visible, as if from a bird’s eye view. Young Turkish nuclear engineers, educated in Russia, are waiting for us there. One of them is a specialist in chemical analysis of the second circuit – a fragile girl Pakize Ayshe Dzhigal.
Journalists near the model of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
Photo: Alena PALAZHCHENKO
“When our countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant, I was still at school and immediately became interested in the peaceful atom,” she says. – I read a lot of interesting things and decided to go to study in this direction. After studying physics in Ankara, she applied to study in Russia, passed the exam and took a course in nuclear energy in St. Petersburg. I am happy that I had the opportunity to become one of the first nuclear specialists in my country and work at the first nuclear power plant in the history of Turkey.
Lucky number 33
In the tent, deployed on the site of the Akkuyu NPP, a model of the future plant is exhibited in all its shining glory. The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, having carefully studied the layout, shared his opinion with journalists:
– Very original design, there are some artistic details. But at the same time they are functional,” he said.
In turn, the head of Rosatom, Likhachev, told reporters that no difficulties had stopped the construction of the nuclear power plant:
– Neither the conflict in Ukraine nor the sanctions affected the pace of our work. Although Akkuyu suffered all the misfortunes that are possible – the pandemic, the sanctions, and the earthquake. But we are moving on schedule and expect to launch the first reactor according to the estimated timeframe – in 2025.
After today’s event, the NPP construction site is officially turning into a strategic nuclear facility.
Photo: Alena PALAZHCHENKO
Answering a question about the possibility of building a second nuclear power plant in Turkey near the city of Sinop, he answered briefly: “We are negotiating with the Turkish government.”
Journalists were taken to local farms – tomatoes, strawberries, bananas… Work is in full swing everywhere, farmers are happy that the weather is good, there are many customers, one can even think about expanding production.
“We have been a family farm since 1976,” says local entrepreneur Furkan. – Previously, we had a small plantation, but now we had to build greenhouses, expand the area – since the start of the construction of the nuclear power plant, there are a lot of orders, we can hardly cope. I think we need to expand further.
We heard the same opinion in other farms. At the strawberry farm, where mostly Syrians work, the owner named Ali even said that he was so pleased with the way things were going with him that he was ready to give strawberries to the Russians from the station even for free – and immediately handed us a package of fragrant berries.
Interesting fact: Turkey will become the 33rd country to have a nuclear power plant. The number “33” also has the code of the province of Mersin, where the Akkuyu NPP is being built. The Turks see this coincidence as a good sign.
