Currently, nuclear power contributes 0% to Türkiye’s electricity production. That is about to change. The country’s first nuclear project, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin Province, is moving steadily toward operation. Construction began in 2018 under Russia’s state-owned company Rosatom, which is building and financing the facility under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. The first reactor is scheduled to start supplying power to the grid in 2025, officially marking Türkiye’s entry into the global club of nuclear-powered nations.
Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar emphasized the importance of the project, noting: “The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, with a total capacity of 4.8 GW, represents a significant milestone in this journey. We plan to have all four units operational by the end of 2028, and once commissioned, they will be able to meet 10% of our electricity needs on their own.”
Türkiye’s nuclear ambitions, however, extend beyond Akkuyu. The government is negotiating with Russia, South Korea, and China for additional plants in Sinop and Thrace. In line with this strategy, Türkiye aims to secure around 5 GW of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) capacity by 2050. Minister Bayraktar underlined broader vision, saying: “By commissioning 20 GW installed nuclear capacity by 2050, we will contribute significantly to the net-zero emissions target.”
Oversight of the sector rests with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK), established in 2018 to handle licensing and safety monitoring. Radioactive waste is managed by the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK), which also oversees decommissioning funds. Under the Akkuyu agreement, spent nuclear fuel will be returned to Russia, reducing concerns over long-term domestic storage.
Türkiye has also joined global initiatives to support nuclear energy expansion. At COP28 in Dubai, the country signed the Declaration on Tripling Nuclear Energy, alongside major nuclear players such as France, Japan, and South Korea. The move signals Türkiye’s intention to place nuclear firmly at the heart of its clean energy transition.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Country Manager, İpek Taşgın.
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