The project company of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu Nuclear, and French engineering group Assystem signed a cooperation agreement to ensure competent safety standards are implemented during the plant’s development, the French company announced on Tuesday.
In accordance with the six-year contract, the French company will supervise the construction of facilities of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant ensuring nuclear safety standards determined by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority are implemented, the company's statement said.
The French company will also provide site inspections on all structures, systems and components during the construction and installation works in line with these safety standards.
'We are proud to be contributing to the future of the nuclear industry by supporting the supply of decarbonized energy in Turkey,' Stephane Aubarbier, chief operating officer of Assystem said.
'The project complements Assystem’s commitment to the development of nuclear energy worldwide as we are convinced that this energy is to play an ever more important part in the world’s use of carbon-free energy in the future. We always strive to make nuclear programs successful, more competitive and safer across the globe and this is an illustration of this constant effort,' he added.
Russia's state atomic energy authority, Rosatom, is constructing the Akkuyu plant in the southern province of Mersin.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin launched the construction of the project at a ceremony in the Turkish capital Ankara on April 3, 2018.
The plant, comprising four units with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts each, will meet about 10 percent of Turkey's electricity needs.
By Firdevs Yuksel
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr