Rosatom speaks of problems from third countries in implementation of NPP project in Turkey, but hopes to launch project on time

ASTANA. July 3 (Interfax) - The state corporation Rosatom sees problems in the imp0lementation of the project to build the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey from third countries, but hopes to complete it in 2025, Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev told reporters.

"The development of the Akkuyu project [in Turkey] is going successfully. Not without problems, first of all, problems are being created to us by third countries, by limiting supplies, worsening mutual settlements, destroying logistics," he said. "But we are going according to plan, to prepare the plant, as we promised, by 2025, for such full-fledged participation in the energy system," Likhachev said.

He also said Siemens had earlier declined to supply equipment for the project. "Siemens denied supplies: some was produced, some was frozen," he said.

Likhachev also spoke about the discussion of a new project in Turkey, the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant. "Mr Erdogan has said more than once that he sees at least 20-25 gigawatt of nuclear electricity in the Republic of Turkey. We suggest looking a little broader at the Sinop project and maybe making it a flagship green cluster, adding to it not only nuclear power, but also the competencies where we can also help: in particular, wind generation, possibly joint work on solar generation," he said, adding that "the final word" will be said by the Turkish partners here.

Rosatom is building the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, the first nuclear power plant I Turkey, in the Mersin province. The plant will consist of four power units, capacity 1,200 megawatt each. The cost of the project to build the nuclear power plant is some $22 billion.

According to earlier reports, Turkey is considering projects to build two other nuclear power plants, in the provinces Sinop and Trakia. Likhachev also said the company is ready to offer to Turkey its small nuclear power plants.