Istanbul: The commissioning process has begun for the first unit of Trkiye's first nuclear power plant, the project's top executive told Anadolu on Tuesday. "Despite some challenges, everything is progressing according to schedule," said Anton Dedusenko, chairman of the board of the Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock Company, speaking on the sidelines of the 11th Nuclear Power Plants Summit in Istanbul.

According to Anadolu Agency, Dedusenko mentioned that preparatory work would be conducted this year to connect the first unit's switchyard to the electrical transmission system. Dedusenko, who is also the CEO of Rusatom Energy International, stated that the general construction of the 1,200-megawatt Unit 1 is complete and that trial operations are underway. He emphasized the importance of the startup phase for a nuclear power unit.

The Akkuyu plant is expected to play a significant role in supporting Trkiye's 2053 net-zero target by reducing the country's carbon emissions by 20%. Dedusenko highlighted the plant's contribution to Trkiye's environmental goals.

On the prospect of future nuclear plants, Dedusenko mentioned ongoing negotiations with Rosatom for a second nuclear facility in Trkiye's Sinop province. He shared that technical and economic feasibility studies are being prepared, but the decision lies with the Turkish side. He also expressed a willingness to involve Turkish companies in Rosatom's international projects, citing their experience with Akkuyu as an advantage.

Each of Akkuyu's four reactors is set to begin operation one year apart. Once at full capacity, the plant is expected to supply about 10% of Trkiye's electricity demand and operate for at least 60 years, with a potential extension of 20 years. In addition to Akkuyu, Ankara plans to develop nuclear facilities in Sinop and the Thrace region, aiming for 20,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050.