The first batch of nuclear fuel has been delivered to the Russia-backed Akkuyu nuclear power station project in Turkey with Moscow hailing “an historic event that marks the entry of the Republic of Turkey into the community of countries developing nuclear generation technologies on their territory”.
Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom said Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Erdoğan took part in a ceremony held at the Akkuyu site, in Merson province on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, via videoconference.
International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi, Turkey’s energy minister Fatih Donmez, Rosatom director-general Alexey Likhachev and Akkuyu Nuclear chief executive officer Anastasia Zoteeva attended the event.
Rosatom said Likhachev presented Donmez with a certificate confirming the fuel delivery “in compliance with all safety standards and requirements”.