Türkiye is nearing the launch of the first power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s first-ever nuclear facility. According to Kazinform, electricity generation is expected to begin in early 2026.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the first unit is now 95% complete. Despite delays caused by the pandemic and challenges in equipment procurement, the government still plans to activate the first reactor within this year.
Construction was initially scheduled to be completed by April 2025, but timelines have since been revised. Authorities are now focused on final-stage works and preparations for power generation. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Russia and the state-owned corporation Rosatom.
Akkuyu NPP consists of four power units equipped with Generation III+ VVER reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW. The plant is being built under the build-own-operate model, a first in the global nuclear industry.
Bayraktar stressed the strategic importance of nuclear energy for Türkiye’s energy security, noting that a single Akkuyu reactor can provide electricity equivalent to around 5,000 MW of installed solar capacity, as nuclear power ensures stable generation regardless of weather conditions. At the same time, Türkiye continues to expand renewable energy, aiming to raise installed wind and solar capacity to 120 GW by 2035.
