Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 25, Fabrication of the control assembly for the reactor vessel has started for the fourth unit at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey. Rosatom stated that this marks the 250th nuclear reactor manufactured in Russia, highlighting a significant milestone for the country’s nuclear engineering sector.

Maxim Zhidkov, head of the Atommash plant, said: "Engineers will ensure that every component and element of the reactor is precisely positioned to a thousandth of a millimetre. This work verifies the reactor's operational readiness for at least six decades. It also streamlines installation at the NPP site. A successful test build stands as a testament to the excellence of Russian design and production standards."

The Atommash plant is simultaneously engaged in several projects. It is manufacturing the reactor vessel for the second unit of Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear power plant and producing 17 steam generators for nuclear facilities in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and India. These projects underscore the company’s ongoing role in global nuclear power development.

Igor Kotov, head of Rosatom's Mechanical Engineering division, noted: "Our products have powered hundreds of nuclear plants in Russia and around the globe, bringing warmth and illumination to millions. They have also driven the creation of nuclear icebreakers ... no less ambitious projects lie ahead. Among them are the launch of the world's first IV Generation energy complex in Seversk ... and the development of a line of floating nuclear power plants."

Akkuyu, located in Turkey’s southern Mersin province, is the country’s first nuclear power plant. The project involves the construction of four VVER-1200 reactors by Rosatom under a BOO (build-own-operate) model, in accordance with the 2010 Intergovernmental Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey. According to the agreement, commissioning of the first power unit must occur within seven years of receiving all necessary permits.

The licence for the construction of Akkuyu’s first unit was issued in 2018, with construction beginning the same year. Nuclear fuel was delivered in April 2023. In December 2023, Turkey’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency granted permission for the first unit to be commissioned. By February 2024, the reactor compartment had been prepared for controlled assembly, and the generator stator had been positioned according to design requirements.

The target is for unit 1 to begin supplying electricity to Turkey’s energy system in the next year. Once completed, the 4800 MWe Akkuyu plant is expected to cover about 10% of Turkey’s electricity demand. The plan is for all four units to be operational by the end of 2028. First concrete for unit 4 was poured in August 2023, marking steady progress toward the project’s overall schedule.

This latest step in the fabrication process reinforces Russia’s role as a key supplier in global nuclear technology while advancing Turkey’s strategic energy goals.