Turkey will likely build its third nuclear power plant with China, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Monday.
During a live question-and-answer social media broadcast with Turkish youths, Erdogan said Turkey would build its own nuclear power plant (NPP) after Akkuyu, which is going to be built by Russia in the southern province of Mersin, and slated to be Turkey's first NPP.
Turkey will not stop at Akkuyu, and will go on to build a second nuclear power plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop, the president said.
'We are also in talks for a third nuclear power plant. [...] Because we need clean, credible energy,' he added.
'The third [NPP] is likely to be built with China. If we agree, we will also send students there for nuclear education.'
In November 2014, Turkey’s state-owned electricity generation company EUAS, Chinese SNPTC and U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Company announced a multi-party agreement to enter exclusive negotiations to develop and construct Turkey's third nuclear power plant.
-Akkuyu to supply 10 percent of Turkey's electricity
Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin launched the construction of Akkuyu at a ceremony in Turkish capital Ankara in early April.
Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom will build the plant comprising four units, each of which has a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.
Akkuyu will produce 35 billion kilowatts of electricity at full capacity, which will meet about 10 percent of Turkey's electricity needs.
'We can supply a 10 percent power need, perhaps more, with Sinop,' Erdogan said. 'And we will be able to meet a higher need with the third one.'
Turkey has so far sent nearly 300 students to Russia for nuclear education, the president noted, adding that there were also plans to send as many, perhaps more students to France and Japan.
'10,000 people will be employed once the three NPPs are completed,' Erdogan said.
Reporting by Sinan Uslu
Writing by Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
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