AtkinsRéalis Signs Agreement to Study 4.5 GW Nuclear Power Project in Türkiye
en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 12, during the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Antalya, Türkiye, Candu Energy, a subsidiary of Canada's AtkinsRéalis Group, signed a nuclear power project feasibility study and front-end engineering design agreement with Türkiye's state-owned nuclear energy company TÜNAŞ to advance the study of a nuclear power plant scheme with a potential installed capacity of 4.5 GW and up to six CANDU heavy water reactors. The project will initially focus on Sinop Province along the Black Sea coast.
This agreement advances the scope of cooperation from the previous technology applicability assessment to a project feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED). The study covers candidate site conditions, the suitability of reactor technology for the site, plant operating schemes, infrastructure requirements, environmental impacts, engineering and construction organization, and project implementation conditions, while also estimating construction costs, financing requirements, and economic viability. The study will also assess the supporting facilities, equipment supply systems, and project risks required for nuclear power plant construction, providing an engineering and commercial basis for subsequent investment decisions.
The technical scheme adopts Canadian CANDU heavy water reactor technology. This technology uses heavy water as both moderator and coolant and utilizes natural uranium fuel, eliminating dependence on the enriched uranium fuel supply chain used by conventional light water reactors. The potential scheme under discussion includes up to six units, with a total installed capacity of approximately 4.5 GW. AtkinsRéalis will be responsible for reactor technology and engineering design work, and will study how to adapt unit design, nuclear island and supporting facility configurations to the candidate site conditions in Türkiye.
Localized manufacturing is an important component of the study. The two parties will assess the conditions for Turkish domestic manufacturers to participate in nuclear island equipment, conventional island equipment, and engineering construction, and will develop plans for cultivating local supply chains, training specialized technical personnel, and project organization. The head of AtkinsRéalis's nuclear business stated that CANDU technology can achieve a high localization rate through local manufacturing, construction, and workforce participation. Regarding financing, the Canadian government will provide support for part of the project's construction funding, and export credit and commercial financing schemes are also under study; the specific financing structure will still need to be determined based on project costs and the final investment decision.
AtkinsRéalis's official announcement expects the relevant studies to be completed by the end of 2027. In an interview with Türkiye's Anadolu Agency, the company's head of nuclear business further stated that the feasibility study is targeted for completion in May 2027, the front-end engineering design is planned for completion between the end of 2027 and early 2028, and the final technology selection is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2028.
