MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. TVEL, fuel arm of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, has begun shipping equipment for nuclear fuel reloading for the first power unit of the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey, the division's press service reported.

"The first component of the equipment of an earthquake-resistant reloading machine, designed to load nuclear fuel into the reactor core and replace spent nuclear fuel with fresh fuel, was delivered to the plant," the statement said.

The Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant to be built in Turkey. The project is being implemented in accordance with the inter-governmental agreement signed by Russia and Turkey in 2010. The power plant will include four Russian-designed VVER generation 3+ reactors. Each reactor’s power output will be 1,200 MWt. Once commissioned and brought to full capacity, the NPP will produce about 35 billion kWh every year. The plant is designed to provide up to 10% of Turkey's electricity needs.