The physical launch and initial electricity generation of the first unit at Türkiye’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant are planned for 2026, according to the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, despite significant disruptions caused by international sanctions on Moscow.

Speaking to the Russian news agency Tass, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said construction at the Akkuyu site in the Gulnar district of Mersin province remains ongoing and that the company is still aiming to bring the first reactor online next year.

“We are targeting next year,” Likhachev said when asked about the timeline for the plant’s first unit.

The Akkuyu project, Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant, has been among the Rosatom ventures most affected by sanctions, Likhachev noted. He cited major difficulties related to international payment systems and the refusal of some suppliers to deliver equipment even after contracts were fulfilled.

Likhachev specifically named Germany’s Siemens, saying that equipment which had already been manufactured and paid for was not delivered to the project. As a result, Rosatom has sought alternative suppliers from what it described as “friendly countries,” while also developing new financial mechanisms to keep construction on track.

According to Likhachev, approximately $2 billion in frozen funds have not been returned, forcing Rosatom to channel financing directly to Turkish contractors and suppliers involved in the project. He emphasized that a large number of Turkish companies and workers are participating in the construction and said no other Rosatom project has faced sanctions-related challenges of this scale.

Despite these obstacles, Rosatom continues to push forward to ensure the first reactor becomes operational in 2026.

Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has also confirmed the 2026 target. Speaking earlier in October, Bayraktar said the first unit at Akkuyu is scheduled to begin electricity production next year, describing it as a historic step in Türkiye’s energy strategy.

“The first unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to start electricity generation in 2026, which will be a historic milestone in our energy diversification,” Bayraktar said.

Recent updates from Turkish authorities indicate that preparatory work for commissioning, including system testing, safety verifications, and grid connection procedures, is continuing in parallel with construction. Training programs for Turkish nuclear engineers and plant operators, conducted both in Türkiye and Russia, are also ongoing as part of long-term localization and capacity-building efforts.

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is being built under a 2010 intergovernmental agreement between Türkiye and Russia. The facility will consist of four VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, giving a total installed capacity of 4,800 megawatts.

Once fully operational, Akkuyu is expected to supply around 10% of Türkiye’s electricity demand, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthening energy security. The plant is designed for an operating life of 60 years, with the option of a 20-year extension, making it a cornerstone of Türkiye’s long-term energy planning. (ILKHA)