Recently, the first airlock unit has been installed at the Akkuyu nuclear plant in Turkey. This chamber has an impressive size of 7 meters in diameter and 14 meters in length, which will facilitate the transportation of materials and equipment to and from the reactor core.
An important airlock for Akkuyu
With the help of a crawler crane, the incorporation of the 260-tonne structure was successful . This airlock will allow the entry of components essential for the operation of the reactor, such as the upper reactor unit and the cooling pump. It will also provide access to vital elements such as primary circuit pipes and steam generators .
Once operational, it will facilitate the mobilization of fuel and other necessary materials, ensuring the integrity of the reactor compartment , enabled by its hermetic doors at both ends, increasing the safety of the plant.
The first deputy general director of the project, Sergei Butckikh, expressed his satisfaction, commenting that this installation symbolizes progress towards the completion of the first unit of the plant. In addition, he highlighted the joint and meticulous work of the teams of Russian and Turkish specialists, who have collaborated closely to reach this milestone in the project.
Progress and development at the Nuclear Power Plant
The Akkuyu plant, located in Mersin province, is not only the first of its kind in Turkey, but is also being built under the BOO (build-own-operate) model by Rosatom . According to the Intergovernmental Agreement between Russia and Turkey , the plant must begin operations within seven years of obtaining all construction permits, which were granted in 2018.
Since the start of construction in the same year, major developments have occurred, including the arrival of nuclear fuel in April 2023. Also, the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Agency gave the green light for the unit to come into operation, after verifying in February that the reactor compartment was ready for final assembly procedures.
Some permits for the first power unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
Source: Rosatom
It is expected that by 2025, this unit will begin to contribute to the national energy system and once the four units are completed, they will provide about 10% of the electricity needed for the country, with a total capacity of 4800 MWe projected for 2028.
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Source and photo: Rosatom
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