Turkey claims that Russia provided $9 billion to it for the Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

The Turkish energy minister announced that Russia has provided $9 billion in new financing for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built by Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear energy company of Moscow. Ankara expects the 'power' plant to be operational by 2026.

Rosatom will build Turkey's first nucleo power station in Mersin, a Mediterranean province. The agreement signed in 2010 is worth $20 billion. The plant had been expected to become operational this year but was delayed.

This (financing), will be most likely used in 2026-2027. According to a report from his ministry, Bayraktar said that there will be at least 4-5 billion dollars in foreign financing for 2026.

He added that Ankara was looking for the "most competitive offer" from the countries of South Korea, China and Russia on the nuclear projects in Sinop Province and Thrace Region.

Bayraktar stated that Turkey wants to produce nuclear power at home, and is aiming to provide clear numbers on targets.

He said that the Turkish government was in discussions with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA?Power Company on a solar package of 5,000 megawatts.

We will complete the?agreement in the first quarter 2026 for 2,000 megawatts. He said that the project would be 2,000 megawatts, with 1,000 in Sivas and a thousand in Taseli.

"We're?discussing another project on solar and energy storage with yet another Gulf firm again. Bayraktar said, without providing details, that the approximate cost of this project is between $1.5-2billion. Can Sezer, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Tuvan Gumrukcu report.

(source: Reuters)