Putin to Erdogan: They set a task — they will do it

The first power unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey will be launched this year. The Russian president concluded this with his colleague at a meeting in Bishkek.

"Joint large—scale projects are continuing, one of them, well-known to everyone, is the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. It works in Turkey, you set our company Rosatom the task of launching the first unit this year — that's how it will be, the company is "on schedule," Vladimir Putin told Recep Erdogan at a meeting after the SCO summit in Bishkek.

The Akkuyu nuclear power plant is of great importance in relations between the two countries, the Turkish president has already noted.

"Yes, we are already at the completion stage in order for the first unit of this nuclear power plant to be commissioned. We are already waiting for these construction works to be completed, and we have jointly started the opening of operation of the first unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. Because with the opening of this power unit, we will talk again about what kind of new power units and power plants we will have," said Recep Erdogan.

At the end of June, the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, announced that the construction of the first power unit of the first nuclear power plant in Turkey had been completed.

"Cold hydraulic testing of the reactor has started, and this work will be completed within a few weeks. There will be just a few weeks left before the start of launch operations, and based on the results of all the work done, an audit will be carried out and adjustments made to the final stage," said the head of the Russian state corporation.

As EADaily reported, Akkuyu NPP is being built on the Mediterranean coast. The plant will consist of four VVER-1200 reactors and will be the first in Turkey. It is expected that the first unit will be put into commercial operation this year. Rosatom will also operate the station.