Turkey plans to construct 2 more nuclear power plants: president

ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said his country will build two more nuclear power plants after the construction of Akkuyu power plant.

"We wish to diversify our portfolio in energy by adding nuclear," he said at an opening ceremony for energy power plants.

The construction of Akkuyu power plant is continuing, which will have 4,800 megawatts and consists of four units, he said, noting that they plan to put the first unit of Akkthe power plant into service in 2023.

"Thus, we will include Turkey among the limited number of countries that process nuclear energy in the world. After Akkuyu, we will quickly start preparations for the second and third nuclear power plants," he added.

The Akkuyu power plant in the southern province of Mersin is being constructed by Russia's state atomic energy corporation Rosatom. The construction started in 2018 after an intergovernmental agreement was signed in 2010.

Turkey's electricity production is based on gas-burning plants and hydroelectric units. Its energy supply is largely dependent on imports, mostly with natural gas purchased from Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia.