ST. PETERSBURG
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said Thursday that a sustainable energy policy dictated establishment of nuclear power plants in Turkey, adding that his country's economy grew faster than world average which he said forced Turkey to diversify its energy resources.
"Nuclear power plants is a must for us if we want to be a developed country and devise a sustainable energy policy. We maintain our resolve on this issue," Yildiz told a panel discussion on "nuclear power: one year after Fukushima" at the St. Petersburg Economy Forum in Russia.
Turkey had announced plans to build three nuclear power plants with a total of at least 12 units by the year 2023.
Turkey had already sealed a deal with Russia's nuclear engineering company Atomstroyexport, which will build the country's first nuclear power plant in the Mediterranean port of Mersin in the Akkuyu area.
Turkey continues talks with South Korea, Japan, China and Canada on building a second nuke plant in the Black Sea port of Sinop.
Yildiz said Fukushima was "an important work accident" which taught lessons to both the public and private sectors, adding that after the Chernobyl accident 144 power plants had been built in the world with superior safety and security systems.
"Nuclear plant is the most important part of sustainable development and energy policy," Yildiz said, adding that 13.5 percent of overall energy production in the world was met by nuclear power plants.
