Russia defies western sanctions: Akkuyu Nuclear Plant Project moves forward

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project will be implemented despite the negative impact of Western sanctions, Russian Ambassador to Ankara Alexey Yerkhov said in an interview with the Turkish Posta newspaper, Report informs.

"The unilateral illegal sanctions by the West, unfortunately, negatively affect the speed of the project, which is intended to become an important element in strengthening your country's (Türkiye's) energy security. But whatever happens, I want to assure you that the project will be implemented and Türkiye will gain access to a sustainable, environmentally clean source of electricity for many years," the ambassador said.

On September 11, Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Ankara would take action against Germany's Siemens company due to problems arising in the equipment supply for the Akkuyu NPP.

Akkuyu is the first NPP being built in Türkiye. The project is being implemented following an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation signed between the Russian Federation and Türkiye on May 12, 2010. The first power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to be commissioned in 2025.