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Putin may attend fuel loading ceremony at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, says Erdogan

The project to build the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is being carried out successfully, the Turkish leader said

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan EPA-EFE/NECATI SAVAS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

© EPA-EFE/NECATI SAVAS

ANKARA, March 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will probably attend the upcoming fuel loading ceremony at Turkey’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"The project to build the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is being carried out successfully. Chances are that Mr Putin will come [to Turkey] to attend the April 27 ceremony. We’ll probably participate online together," Erdogan told the A Haber TV channel.

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

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Vladimir Putin Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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