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Akkuyu NPP to help Turkey reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35 mln tons a year — minister

Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also announced plans by the Turkish authorities to invest over $20 billion in energy-efficient production by 2030

ISTANBUL, November 18. /TASS/. The commissioning of Turkey's first Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) will make it possible to reduce emissions into the atmosphere by about 35 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said while presenting his ministry’s budget for 2025 in the parliament.

"Once it is fully commissioned the Akkuyu NPP will be capable to cover 10% of Turkey's electricity needs. This will also reduce natural gas imports by $7 billion per year and reduce emissions into the atmosphere by about 35 million tons of carbon dioxide," he said as quoted by Haberturk TV channel.

Bayraktar also announced plans by the Turkish authorities to invest over $20 billion in energy-efficient production by 2030, which will save $46 billion over 15 years.

About Akkuyu NPP

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. Under the terms of the intergovernmental agreement, the first power unit of the NPP is to be commissioned in seven years after all permits have been received. Taking into account the receipt of the license for the construction of the first power unit in 2018, this deadline falls on 2025.

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