Rosatom concludes an agreement with a Russian manufacturer in a Turkish nuclear power plant

Akkuyu Nukleer AS, the nuclear energy company controlled by Russian state-owned Rosatom Corp., canceled its contract with a Turkish builder and instead chose a Russian contractor for the remaining work on Turkey’s $20 billion atomic power plant. dollars.

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(Bloomberg) – Akkuyu Nukleer AS, the nuclear energy company controlled by Russian state-owned Rosatom Corp., canceled its contract with a Turkish builder and instead chose a Russian contractor for the remaining work on Turkey’s atomic power plant. of $20 billion.

An engineering, supply and construction contract with Ankara-based IC Ictas has been canceled and an agreement has been signed with TSM Enerji Insaat, Akkuyu Nukleer said in a statement on Saturday.

He did not cite a reason for the cancellation, although he said contractors involved in the project should have the « competence » to operate at an « intense tempo ».

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In a statement on Friday, IC Ictas accused Rosatom of trying to « reduce the presence of Turkish companies » on the project. In Saturday’s statement, Akkuyu Nukleer CEO Anastasia Zoteeva said the number of Turkish companies and workers will continue to grow.

Russia transfers dollars to Turkey for $20 billion nuclear power plant

Mersin-based TSM Enerji, which will replace IC Ictas, is owned by three Russian companies, according to Turkey’s commercial register.

Turkey has decided to build the 4,800 megawatt nuclear power plant at Akkuyu, near the Mediterranean port city of Mersin, to reduce dependence on imported energy. He signed an agreement with Russia in 2010 on the construction of the plant.

It was unclear whether the change of contractor would cause a delay in the plant’s schedule. Turkey hopes to see the first of Akkuyu’s four reactors operational in 2023.

Rosatom sent about $5 billion to Akkuyu Nukleer last week, and two more similar dollar transfers are expected within weeks, Bloomberg News reported on July 29, citing senior Turkish officials with direct knowledge of the matter.