Turkey anticipates major energy breakthroughs in the coming year, including the launch of the first reactor at its Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant alongside increased domestic natural gas production and continued rapid growth in renewable sources (solar/wind), energy officials in Ankara said on Friday.
These advancements are part of Turkey’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on imported energy, enhance energy security, and meet growing demand through diversified, cleaner sources. The combined impact of nuclear, renewable, and domestic gas projects is expected to be a game-changer for the nation’s energy landscape.
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is a large nuclear power plant in Turkey under construction by Russia’s nuclear energy company Rosatom in Akkuyu, Büyükeceli, Mersin Province. The facility will generate 4,800 megawatts (MW) of total installed capacity from its four VVER-1200 reactors, enough to power Istanbul or cover about 10% of Turkey’s electricity demand, and is expected to produce around 40 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually when fully operational. The first reactor is anticipated to come online by late 2026, with full operation expected by 2028
Turkey also plans to expand its domestically produced natural gas primarily through the accelerated development of its Black Sea gas fields and increased investment in exploration activities. The main driver of domestic production is the Sakarya offshore gas field, the largest discovery in Turkey’s history. Production began in April 2023, with production expected to double in 2026 and reach 40 million cubic meters by 2028.
At full capacity, the field could meet up to 30% of the nation’s annual gas demand. The state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is conducting further exploration in the Black Sea, with new drilling operations planned. Turkey has also expanded its exploration efforts to the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, and Somalia, in some cases in partnership with other nations.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s drone manufacturer Baykar has started working on small modular reactors (SMRs), Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has revealed. According to the minister, Baykar is trying to build a 40-megawatt unit, with the Turkish government aiming to generate 5,000 megawatts from small modular reactors. Meanwhile, Turkey aims to build 12 conventional nuclear reactors, with a target to generate 10 -15% of its electricity from nuclear energy by 2050.
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com
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