MERSIN /Turkey/, December 10. /TASS/. The Akkuyu nuclear power plant project is seen as an economic guarantee for the development of relations between Russia and Turkey, Director General of Russia’ state nuclear corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev said on Sunday.

"It is worth noting that the power plant will be owned by Rosatom," he said. "On the one hand, we will ensure reliable and safe operation and, on the other hand, we will supply electricity here efficiently in commercial terms. This project will create new jobs and will be a good economic guarantee for the development of Russian-Turkish relations."

He said the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant was a major project in relations between the two countries. "Russia is investing its money here. Russia is attracting Turkish money here. Russia is attracting commercial resources here," he said.

Earlier on Sunday, the Akkuyu construction kickoff ceremony was held in Mersin. The limited license is the first permission, which Rosatom received in October. Under it, the company will build the so-called non-nuclear facilities.

Russia and Turkey signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction and operation of Turkey’s first nuclear plant. The Akkuyu nuclear power plant project, estimated at 20 billion U.S. dollars, provides for the construction of four power units of 1.2 gigawatts each near the port of Mersin in Turkey. Rostamon obtained a limited license for the construction of the Akkuyu plant in October and plans to have the general license by mid-2018.