nuclear power in Turkey

Turkey's nuclear activities started soon after the first International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held in Geneva in September 1955. In 1961, a 1 MW test reactor at Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center was commissioned for educational and research purposes.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.taek.gov.tr/tr/kurumsal/services.html |website=taek.gov.tr |access-date=5 January 2021 |language=tr |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230091819/https://www.taek.gov.tr/tr/kurumsal/services.html |url-status=dead }} As stated by the World Nuclear Association, the first endeavour was a feasibility report in 1970 involving a 300 MWe facility. Then in 1973, the electricity authority agreed to construct a demonstration plant of 80 MWe. In 1976, Akkuyu, a site 45 kilometers west of the southern city Silifke, was chosen as the nuclear power plant site. The Prime Ministry Atomic Energy Authority issued a license for this place.{{cite news |title=Nükleer santral ihalesi yakında |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/nukleer-santral-ihalesi-yakinda-710262/ |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Radikal |date=8 May 2004 |language=tr}} An effort to develop multiple plants failed in 1980 due to a failure of ensuring financial guarantees by the government, that viewed coal plants in Turkey as more favorable. Turkey suspended work on nuclear plants due to the Chernobyl disaster that occurred in the Soviet Union in 1986. In 1988, the TEK Nuclear power plants Department was closed.enerji2023.org, 19 August 2013, [http://www.enerji2023.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152:tuerkye-acisindan-nuekleer-enerjnn-yer&catid=6:nuekleer&Itemid=221] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212659/http://www.enerji2023.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152:tuerkye-acisindan-nuekleer-enerjnn-yer&catid=6:nuekleer&Itemid=221|date=4 March 2016}}

In 1993, a nuclear plant was included in the country's investment scheme. However, the revised bidding requirements were not issued until 1996. Bids were issued by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, the Westinghouse Electric Company-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries consortium and the Framatome-Siemens consortium for a 2000 MWe plant at Akkuyu. The final bid deadline was in 1997, but the government postponed its several times, until the preparations were scrapped due to financial difficulties.

In May 2004, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Güler said "We will meet with the countries that produce these plants soon" and brought the issue of nuclear power plant back to the agenda. In his statement, Güler stated that the technical investigations on nuclear power plants are continuing and that negotiations will be held soon. Güler announced that the construction of the first power plant will begin in 2007.{{cite news |title=Nükleer için tarih: 2007 |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/nukleer-icin-tarih-2007-771995/ |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Radikal |date=17 February 2006 |language=tr}} In 2006, the northern Turkish city of Sinop, located near the Black Sea, was designated to host a commercial nuclear power plant. According to World Nuclear Association, the Sinop site has the advantage of cooling the water temperature approximately 5-degree Celsius lower than those at Akkuyu, helping each thermal reactor to achieve approximately 1 percent greater power output. A 100 MWe demonstration plant was to be installed there. Subsequently, 5000 MWe of additional plants were to come into operation from 2012 onwards. For construction and service, a form of public-private partnership (PPP) has been anticipated. The government said it aimed to have a total of 4500 MWe of energy running from three nuclear power stations by the end of 2015. Talks were happening with AECL over two 750 MWe CANDU reactors. The pressurized water reactor was also favoured by the government. The first reactors, totalling some 5000 MWe, were to be installed at Akkuyu, as the location already was approved. At the same time, the licensing for Sinop was still progressing.

A new legislation on the construction and maintenance of nuclear power plants was enacted by the Turkish Parliament in 2007.{{cite news |title=Turkish parliament approves nuclear power law |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-nuclear/turkish-parliament-approves-nuclear-power-law-idUKL0945854220071109 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Reuters|date=9 November 2007 |language=en}} The bill called for the establishment of requirements for the design and operation of the plants by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK). It enables the government to grant purchase guarantees to firms for the total energy produced in nuclear power plants. Waste control and decommissioning were also covered by the bill. Turkey started to be subjected to the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy. Criteria for developers who will build and run nuclear power plants were issued soon after this legislation.

A civil nuclear deal with the United States came into effect in 2008,{{cite news |title=U.S.-Turkey Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/105492.htm |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Department of State. The Office of Electronic Information |date=2 June 2008 |language=en}} a nuclear cooperation deal with South Korea was established in June 2010,{{cite news |title=Turkey, South Korea sign cooperation MoU |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Turkey_South_Korea_sign_cooperation_MoU-1506108.html |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=World Nuclear News |date=15 June 2010}} and two more deals were signed with China in 2012.{{cite news |last1=Dombey |first1=Daniel |title=China edges ahead in Turkey nuclear race |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8e2c86ae-8147-11e1-8aae-00144feab49a |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=8 April 2012}} The following year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) performed the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) in Turkey to evaluate the country's advancement in the planning for a new nuclear power scheme. Although the review was positive, the IAEA advised Turkey to complete the national nuclear energy strategy and to improve the regulating agency.

In 2007 a bill concerning construction and operation of nuclear power plants and the sale of their electricity was passed by parliament. It also addresses waste management and decommissioning, providing for a National Radioactive Waste Account and a Decommissioning Account, which generators will pay into progressively.{{cite web| url = http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf102.html| title = Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries| date = April 2009| work = World Nuclear Association| access-date = 22 April 2009| archive-date = 29 October 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191029134444/https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/others/emerging-nuclear-energy-countries.aspx| url-status = dead}}

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recommended "enacting a law on nuclear energy which establishes an independent regulatory body and putting a national policy in place that covers a wide range of issues, as well as further developing the required human resources".{{cite web|title=IAEA Delivers Report on Nuclear Power Development to Turkey|url=http://www.iaea.org/NuclearPower/News/2014/2014-02-20-inig.html}}

In 2018, Turkey created the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. It took over most of the duties of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) like issueing licenses and permits to companies operating nuclear energy and ionizing radiation facilities.{{cite news |last1=Aksoy |first1=Tuğba |title=Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority – Energy and Natural Resources – Turkey |url=https://www.mondaq.com/turkey/energy-law/806544/turkish-nuclear-regulatory-authority |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=mondaq.com |date=17 May 2019}}{{cite news |title=Turkey sets up new nuclear regulator – Nuclear Engineering International |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsturkey-sets-up-new-nuclear-regulator-6244883 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Nuclear Engineering International magazine |date=13 July 2018}} TAEK was renamed as TENMAK, and it is now exclusively liable for the management of radioactive waste. According to a scholar, providing concessions for nuclear power plants via international agreements rather than competitive tenders means such projects cannot be challenged in the constitutional court.{{Cite journal |title=Türkiye's nuclear energy aspirations: policy challenges and legal trajectory |journal=The Journal of World Energy Law & Business |date=2024 |doi=10.1093/jwelb/jwae005 |last1=Artantas |first1=Onur Cagdas |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=201–214 |doi-access=free }}

Since 1979, a TRIGA research reactor has been running at the Istanbul Technical University named the ITU TRIGA Mark-II Training and Research Reactor. It is supervised by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK). It is the second operational and third installed nuclear research reactors in Turkey, the other being the Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center.

{{Excerpt|Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant}}

While Turkey's nuclear journey, which started with Adnan Menderes in 1956, has been subject to obstacles for approximately 70 years due to different reasons, this national ideal; Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which started in the 1970s and has not progressed for more than 40 years, was established within the scope of the National Energy Strategy put forward by Berat Albayrak, when he was the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in 2017. In fact, the production license of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was prepared and construction permit was granted in October 2017. Construction started with the groundbreaking ceremony held in April 2018.

It was reported that this project, which had not been started for over 70 years due to various reasons, had come to the groundbreaking process of the power plant as a result of the intensive efforts of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak in his second year of duty at the Ministry of Energy. [https://enerji.gov.tr/haber-detay?id=271]

Akkuyu Nuclear Reactor, with its 4800 MW installed power capacity and annual electricity production of 35 billion kWh, will meet 10% of Turkey's electrical energy needs alone and with its investment cost of 20 billion dollars, it is the largest project in the history of the Republic.

{{Excerpt|Sinop Nuclear Power Plant}}

In 2013 Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yıldız announced that the government was working on the plans of the third nuclear plant, which was projected to be built after 2023 under the management of Turkish engineers.{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-japan-sign-22-bln-deal-for-sinop-nuclear-plant.aspx?pageID=238&nID=46206&NewsCatID=348 |newspaper=Hürriyet Daily News |title=Turkey, Japan sign $22 bln deal for Sinop nuclear plant |date=3 May 2013 |access-date=4 May 2013}}

In 2015 it was announced that İğneada had been selected as the third site. Technology would have come from US based firm Westinghouse Electric Company in the form of two AP1000 and two CAP1400.{{Cite web |title=Nuclear Power in Turkey {{!}} Nuclear Energy in Turkey – World Nuclear Association |url=https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/turkey.aspx |access-date=2021-11-12 |website=world-nuclear.org}}{{Cite web|title=Turkey Plans to Build Nuclear Power Plant Close to Border with Bulgaria – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/171329/Turkey+Plans+to+Build+Nuclear+Power+Plant+Close+to+Border+with+Bulgaria|access-date=2021-11-12|website=novinite.com}}

There have been anti-nuclear protests in the past, for example in April 2006, plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Ince peninsula caused a large anti-nuclear demonstration in the Turkish city of Sinop.[http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/showthread.php?47326-Thousands-protest-Turkey-s-plans-to-build-nuclear-power-plant "Thousands protest Turkey's plans to build nuclear power plant"], AP Worldstream, 29 April 2006 (Retrieved 2010-11-08, 0410 UTC). Greenpeace, who have expressed concerns over earthquakes and the ability of the authorities to protect the public, have opposed these proposals.{{Cite web |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hSD9oNK9SZNTTieI_W9BcTtGJgIw |title=Greenpeace protests at Turkey's nuclear power plant |access-date=16 March 2011 |archive-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007203959/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hSD9oNK9SZNTTieI_W9BcTtGJgIw |url-status=dead }} There are concerns that no site for the waste has yet been selected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.enerjigunlugu.net/enerji-piyasalarinda-2020-yili-ongoruleri-31771yy.htm|title=Enerji piyasalarında 2020 yılı öngörüleri – Haluk DİRESKENELİ|last=DİRESKENELİ|first=Haluk|date=3 January 2020|website=Enerji Günlüğü|language=tr|access-date=2020-01-04}} In 2022 an opposition MP in Mersin said he was against Akkuyu because it is 51% owned by Russia.{{Cite web |title=CHP'li Başarır uyardı: 'Nükleer santralin yüzde 51'i Rusların olacak' |url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/chpli-basarir-uyardi-nukleer-santralin-yuzde-51i-ruslarin-olacak-1913428 |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=cumhuriyet.com.tr |language=tr}}

{{Excerpt|Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant#Economics}}

Signed contract for the Akkuyu plant foresees the return of nuclear fuel waste to Russia.{{Cite web |date=20 May 2022 |title=The Akkuyu NPP and Russian-Turkish Nuclear Cooperation: Asymmetries and risks – Ioannis N. Grigoriadis and Eliza R. Gheorghe |url=https://www.eliamep.gr/en/publication/%ce%bf-%cf%80%cf%85%cf%81%ce%b7%ce%bd%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%8c%cf%82-%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b1%ce%b8%ce%bc%cf%8c%cf%82-akkuyu-%cf%80%ce%b1%cf%81%ce%ac%ce%b4%ce%b5%ce%b9%ce%b3%ce%bc%ce%b1-%cf%81%cf%89%cf%83%ce%bf/ |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=ΕΛΙΑΜΕΠ |language=en-US}} Other waste and waste from future plants may be stored in Turkey, although it is not yet known where.{{Cite web |last=Algedik |first=Önder |date=13 October 2021 |title=New laws to turn Turkey into a nuclear waste dump |url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/new-laws-to-turn-turkey-into-a-nuclear-waste-dump-article-59183 |access-date=2021-11-12 |website=Duvar}}

• Turkish Atomic Energy Authority
• List of commercial nuclear reactors#Turkey

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite report

|title=Turkey Energy Outlook

|first1=Prof. Carmine

|last1=Difiglio

|first2=Bora Şekip

|last2=Güray

|first3=Ersin

|last3=Merdan

|publisher=Sabanci University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC)

|url=https://iicec.sabanciuniv.edu/teo

|date=November 2020

|website=iicec.sabanciuniv.edu

|isbn=978-605-70031-9-5

}}

• Artantas, Onur Cagdas (2024). "[https://academic.oup.com/jwelb/article/17/3/201/7644944 Türkiye's nuclear energy aspirations: policy challenges and legal trajectory]". The Journal of World Energy Law & Business. 17 (3): 201–214. doi:10.1093/jwelb/jwae005.

• [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/Turkey/ Nuclear Power in Turkey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118055252/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/Turkey/ |date=18 November 2015 }}, World Nuclear Association
• [http://www.edam.org.tr/EDAMNukleer/edamreport.pdf A Study on the Security and Safety Aspects of Switching to Nuclear Power in Turkey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205212647/https://edam.org.tr/EDAMNukleer/edamreport.pdf |date=5 December 2020 }}

{{Asia topic|Nuclear energy in|state=expand}}

{{Europe topic|Nuclear energy in|state=expand}}

{{Nuclear power by country}}

{{Nuclear energy in Turkey}}

Category:Politics of Turkey