Construction of Akkuyu NPP on schedule, 1st power unit may be launched in 2023 - Putin

ASTANA. Oct 13 (Interfax) - The first power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant may be launched by Turkey's centenary, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"The work is being done on schedule, and 20,000 people are currently at work on the construction site. We are advancing on schedule and it looks like we will be able to fulfill our agreements and launch the first unit by the centenary of the Turkish Republic. It is planned to supply nuclear fuel roughly in May of next year, which will allow us to mark another stage of our joint work in this area," Putin said at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The centenary of Turkey will be observed in 2023.

Erdogan said, for his part, "the first Akkuyu unit will begin operation in the first half of next year."

"It will be a new era. It will also be very good news for the world," he said.

Turkish-Russian cooperation in the Akkuyu NPP project will allow both countries to meet 10% of their demand for electric power, Erdogan said.

"If another nuclear power plant is built, there will be 10% more. This means we will be able to meet 20% of our demand for electric power," he said.