The foundation of the off-shore hydraulic engineering structures of “Akkuyu” NPP

NEW DELHI - April 20, 2015 - PRLog -- Mersin Province of the Republic of Turkey hosted the ceremony dedicated to laying the foundation of the off-shore hydraulic engineering structures (OHES) of “Akkuyu” NPP construction project. The event was attended by the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yıldız, the Chief Executive Officer of “Rosatom” SC Sergey Kiriyenko, the Russian Ambassador in the Republic of Turkey Andrey Karlov, the Governor of Mersin Province Özdemir Çakacak, the Chief Executive Officer of “Rusatom Overseas” JSC Dzhomart Aliev, the Chief Executive Officer of “AKKUYU NUCLEAR” JSC Fuad Akhundov, as well as representatives of various government agencies and businesses in Turkey.

“Today will go down in the history of development of the nuclear industry in the Republic of Turkey. The Turkish company won the tender for design and construction of the off-shore hydraulic engineering structures for “Akkuyu” NPP. This suggests that our companies meet the requirements to bidders tendering for the right to perform construction and installation works for construction of nuclear power plants” Taner Yıldız said at the ceremony. The Turkish Energy Minister expressed confidence that in the near future Turkish firms will be able to tender for construction of NPPs in different countries. “It is impossible to imagine a developed country without nuclear power. Going forward Turkey must have a diversified energy system. Nuclear power plants shall become an integral part of the Republic of Turkey. We will surely build new NPPs and power plants operating based on renewable energy sources. Preference for ones does not mean rejection of the others” he added. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yıldız focused on the fact that if “Akkuyu” NPP had worked today, it could meet the electric power needs of Istanbul with a population of 15 million people”.

The head of the Turkish Ministry of Energy said that Turkey's first nuclear power plant operation will not result in outflow of tourists from the region. “The most visited cities in the world are: Paris, London, Madrid. The French capital attracts most tourists per year. However, an area with a diameter of only 55 km with center in Paris hosts 7 nuclear plants. Thus, we can say with certainty that NPPs do not affect the flow of tourists” he said. Taner Yıldız told participants and guests of the event, that when “Akkuyu” NPP is built and starts operation, it will be the most modern plant in terms of safety systems”.

“The first Turkish nuclear power plant is a strategic project between Turkey and Russia. The NPP will be an important component for a stable and secure energy supply of the Republic of Turkey. Construction of “Akkuyu” NPP will allow creating thousands of new jobs. At the peak period of construction of the plant up to 10 thousand workers will work at the construction site. We will do everything for Turkish companies to be proprietary contractors” the CEO of “Rosatom” SC Sergey Kiriyenko said. Sergey Kiriyenko also said that the plant will employ locals and this will have a positive impact on the level of income of citizens. “This is the first time when “Rosatom” announced a tender for the hydraulic engineering structures of “Akkuyu” NPP targeting Turkish companies only - we have never done it before in other countries; all willing companies were invited to tender. We deliberately invited to the tender for OHES only Turkish companies for them to gain such experience. The aim is to form a pool of partners with whom “Rosatom” would continue to work on construction of nuclear facilities in Russia and third countries” he said. The head of the State Corporation also noted that the OHES will be designed and constructed by the Turkish company - “Cengiz Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret” JSC, which has met all stated requirements and offered the cheapest price - 394 million US dollars, which is almost three times less than the initial maximum contract price.

Sergey Kiriyenko also said that state-of-the-art technologies are used for “Akkuyu” nuclear power plant project: “There is no more advanced NPP construction technology. After the Fukushima accident special protection measures were developed. If in 2011 Japan had such plant as “Akkuyu” NPP, then nothing would have happened to it, and it would have continued to work with 100 percent reliability. We do not build in Mersin Province a test project. The technology, which is planned to be used here, was used previously and was approved in Russia and other countries. I want to note that besides the Russian Ministry of Energy and other Russian state and public organizations “Rosatom” is verified by international organizations as well. We work openly and do not hide anything”.

The head of “Rosatom” SC said that “Akkuyu” NPP will work for more than 80 years, and its operation requires appropriate human resources. “In 2015 more 80 students from Turkey will begin to study in the best universities of Russia to get a specialty in the field of nuclear power as part of the training program for Turkey's first nuclear power plant. This year 6,100 people - more than 70 people per place have applied for studies. The interest of Turkish young people in nuclear power and nuclear engineering increases. The Government of the Russian Federation supports “Rosatom”. This gives us the opportunity to be leader in creation of the nuclear industry in other countries. This year Russia will celebrates the 70th anniversary of nuclear technology creation. We have a huge experience, which we share abroad” he said.

The Turkey's Energy Minister and the head of “Rosatom” SC laid a capsule in the “foundation stone” of the off-shore hydraulic engineering structures of the “Akkuyu” NPP project with a message to future generations. ““Akkuyu” NPP will provide Turkey with clean, safe, stable and reliable generation of electric power. “Akkuyu” nuclear power plant will expand our cooperation not only in the energy sector, but also in the field of science and technology. Laying the foundation of the structures is a historic event in strengthening the strategic cooperation between the two countries” the message says.