Ankara- Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar revealed last week that the delay in the opening of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant was due to the German company Siemens Energy withholding key components, explaining that this delay prompted the Russian company Rosatom, which is building and operating the plant, to turn to China to secure these parts.
Turkey had initially planned to operate the first reactor at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant by 2023, but delays in the project have pushed that date back to the following year.
The remaining reactors are scheduled to enter service gradually, with full operation to be completed by the end of 2028.
The minister stressed that the delay could lead to postponing the operation of the first reactor at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant for several months, explaining that the decision has a political nature, and that the Turkish authorities received an official notification about it earlier.
Bayraktar: Türkiye may consider imposing fines on Siemens Energy as a result of this delay
Bayraktar said that more than 90% of the construction work on the first reactor has been completed, but he pointed out that the project faces technical challenges related to the nature of nuclear energy, in addition to obstacles resulting from external factors.
In the context of searching for alternative solutions, Bayraktar confirmed that the Russian company Rosatom, which is responsible for building the station, has concluded deals with Chinese companies to secure the required parts, without disclosing the names of these companies. He explained that the alternatives are ready, and that the parts will arrive from China.
He also indicated that Türkiye may consider imposing fines on Siemens Energy as a result of this delay, despite the long history of cooperation between the two countries on multiple projects.
In a previous statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his dissatisfaction with Germany’s delay in exporting some of the necessary parts for the Akkuyu station, which caused them to be held for long periods in customs.
Erdogan explained that he raised this issue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, stressing that the matter was a major source of annoyance for the Turkish government.
Siemens explains
According to Reuters, a Siemens Energy spokesman confirmed that the failure to deliver some parts to Türkiye was due to restrictions imposed by German export regulations.
“Some parts have been delivered for a long time, but no shipments have been made over the past year, due to the failure to issue the necessary export and customs licenses, and we are fully committed to complying with export regulations,” he said.
Rosatom’s subsidiary, Akguyu Nuclear, reported that ongoing attempts to secure the delivery of the required equipment had failed, so Rosatom had resorted to ordering equipment from Chinese companies to ensure adherence to the project schedule.
Russia’s Rosatom is building the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Mersin. The $20 billion project, which includes four reactors with a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts, is a pivotal step in Turkey’s entry into the club of countries with civil nuclear power.
Turkey and Russia signed the intergovernmental agreement on the Akkuyu plant in 2010, while actual construction began in 2013, and the project witnessed a significant acceleration in 2018. The agreement stipulates that Turkey’s ownership of the plant will be 49%, with a commitment to operate the first reactor by 2025, in addition to an agreement to purchase power at a guaranteed price.
Why is Türkiye interested in nuclear energy?
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, academic researcher Genc Saracoglu pointed out that Turkey is striving to enhance its energy security and diversify its energy sources, by introducing nuclear energy as a pivotal part of its national energy plan.
He believes that this trend is in line with the Turkish government’s goals of making electricity generated from nuclear plants account for 11.1% of total production by 2030, which will contribute to strengthening Turkey’s energy independence and supporting its transition towards a sustainable energy system.
He explained that Türkiye relies on strategic partnerships and regulatory developments to expand its nuclear capabilities by 2050, including conventional plants and small and medium-sized reactors.
Among these projects is the Akkuyu station, which he indicated could have an operating period of 60 years, with the possibility of extension, as it will contribute to preventing the emission of 2.1 billion tons of carbon, which supports Turkey’s commitment to achieving net emissions by 2053.
As part of Turkey’s plans to expand its nuclear energy infrastructure, Saraçoğlu believes that ongoing talks between Turkey, Russia and South Korea to build a second plant in Sinop, as well as with China to build a third plant in the Thrace region, will boost the country’s drive towards clean and sustainable energy.
Can China make up for Germany’s absence?
In this context, Haji Bayram Hakki University economic researcher, Erol Gun, explained to Al Jazeera Net that the German company’s decision comes in a political context, explaining that Turkey has submitted many complaints to the German government urging it to expedite the sending of the required and agreed-upon components.
He believes that this ban is related to the sanctions imposed on Russia, but it directly affects Turkey, although it is not a party to the conflict. However, he believes that these obstacles may delay the launch of the project, but will not hinder its full completion, as Turkey has alternatives to imports, such as China and South Korea, which have close relations with Turkey in the field of nuclear energy.
China could be a potential partner for building Turkey’s third nuclear power plant, which would boost the country’s nuclear capabilities and reduce its dependence on traditional suppliers who may be affected by political pressure, Errol Gun adds.
He notes that China has shown a clear desire to join Turkey in this field from the beginning, as it sees cooperation with Ankara as an opportunity to strengthen its presence in the global nuclear market, especially with the increasing demand for clean energy.
