MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/. The Akkuyu nuclear power plant project was in focus of talks between CEO of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Alexei Likhachev and Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak on the sidelines of the World Energy Congress in Turkey’s Istanbul, Rosatom said on Sunday.

"The sides discussed current issues concerning the project for the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant Akkuyu which is the world’s first to be implemented under the build-own-operate (BOO) scheme," Rosatom said. "On Monday, Rosatom’s head will take part in the forum as a member of the Russian delegation."

The Akkuyu nuclear power plant is being built near the port of Mersin in Turkey with Rosatom’s participation. The project provides for the construction of four power units of 1.2 gigawatts each.

In June 2016, Rosatom said it planned first concrete spouting works at Akkuyu in 2018 after it obtains a construction license. The first power unit is planned to be commissioned by 2023.