Erdogan: Putin to participate in Akkuyu NPP fuel loading ceremony

Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate via a video linkup in the ceremony to deliver nuclear fuel to the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey on April 27, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the TRT television.

"The ceremony to deliver nuclear fuel to the Akkuyu NPP will take place on April 27. Once the fuel is delivered, the plant will acquire the status of a nuclear facility. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also participate in the ceremony via a video linkup," he said.

Erdogan went on to say that once all the four reactors go on stream, the Akkuyu NPP will meet one tenth of the country’s overall demand for electric power.

"To begin with, we will put the first reactor into operation. Then, other reactors will be activated one by one, over a certain period of time," he said.

The NPP will help Turkey reduce the amount of natural gas that it uses to generate electricity, and, therefore, will give it an opportunity to sell more gas from its Black Sea deposits. Therefore, the NPP will allow Turkey to earn additional $6.5 billion.

The Akkuyu NPP is designed to provide up to 10% of Turkey's electricity needs. The construction of the first nuclear power unit is planned to be completed this year.