Gov’t signals second nuclear power plant
Posted by meb at November 4th, 2008
While the tender process for the nation’s first nuclear power plant has not yet been finalized, the government has approved the start of a second plant
Having come under fire for mishandling the tender process for the nation’s first nuclear power plant, the Turkish government is already pushing the button for the go-ahead on a second station.
The only proposal to build the country’s first nuclear power plant in the Mediterranean coastal town of Akkuyu in Mersin, was submitted by a consortium formed by Russia’s Atomstroy export, Inter RAO and Turkey’s Park Teknik, a unit of Ciner Holding, last September.
Energy experts criticized the bid from the start, arguing the energy ministry had mismanaged the whole affair and Turkey would become even more dependent on Russia for energy. Several companies, including Turkey’s Sabancı Holding, requested a postponement of the tender and some said the timetable was insufficient to prepare a proposal, but the ministry pressed on.
While the tender process for the first nuclear power plant has not yet been finalized, the government will launch legal procedures for the establishment of a new nuclear plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop. The ongoing preliminary works in Sinop, initiated by the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency, or TAEK, will be completed by the end of this year.
Preparations to conclude in 2009
The launch of a tendering process to build a new nuclear plant in Sinop was included in the government’s 2009 energy program. The Energy Ministry, TAEK, The State Planning Organization, or DPT, the Energy Market Regulatory Agency, or EPDK, Treasury and the government-owned electricity company TETAŞ, are among the institutions responsible for the new initiative.
The preparatory works on the new nuclear plant project are expected to be finalized by September 2009. The legal and administrative processes, which will pave the way for new tender processes in Sinop, will also be concluded, according to the government’s program.
Sinop undergoes examination
A comprehensive technical survey will also be held in Sinop to determine whether its location is appropriate to host such a nuclear power plant.
A Nuclear Technology Center will also be established in Sinop, in an area between İnceburun and Akliman. It will be 20 kilometers from the center of Sinop and stretch over a 3,900 hectare area. The center will also include a nuclear fuel production center, research reactor, accelerator and educational buildings. As works continue to determine whether Sinop is geographically convenient for a nuclear plant in accordance with 43 parameters, the two nuclear power plants will be built at the same time so the share of nuclear energy will increase to desired levels by 2015.
Nuclear regulatory institution
Legal arrangements connected to the control of nuclear activities will occur until March 2009. An independent institution, the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Institution, or TNDK, will be established for this purpose and the duties of TAEK will be reviewed. The TNDK will be responsible for issuing licenses for operations, such as operating nuclear and radioactive waste institutions and uranium and thorium mines in Turkey.
A production license from EPDK will also be required in order to produce electricity production from nuclear plants.
source: Turkish Daily News
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