Turkey’s nuclear power plant project gets second chance
The planned Akkuyu nuclear power plant has had its share of problems, but could become a lucrative strategic partnership between Russia and Turkey.
The second groundbreaking ceremony for Turkey's first nuclear power plant is set for April, and this time officials hope to make it stick despite funding difficulties and past delays.
The Akkuyu plant is the largest joint project symbolizing strategic relations between Russia and Turkey. The facility will have a 4,800-megawatt capacity and will cost some $20 billion. Turkish officials still say Akkuyu is scheduled to go into service in 2023 — the centennial of the Turkish Republic — though it is unlikely to meet that schedule.
What makes the Akkuyu project so strategic and important?
Kerim Has, a Moscow State University lecturer who closely follows Turkish-Russian relations, highlights the importance of energy contracts in Russian foreign policy.
