Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin has approved draft Russian-Turkishinter-governmental protocol for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and has instructed Vice Premier Igor Sechin to coordinate it with the Turkish partners and to sign it on Russia’s behalf.

Before being submitted to Putin the document was examined by the Ministry of Energy of Russia and coordinated with the Turkish authorities. The protocol stipulates that, as soon as the tender for the construction of Akkuyu NPP (the first nuclear power plant in Turkey) is over, the parties should support the project and ensure its effective implementation.

The protocol says that, following up on the offer of the Russian-Turkish consortium, the Government of Turkey will consider the possibility of providing 25% + 1 stake in the capital of the future plant and issuing a soft loan for financing the construction, installation and delivery activities carried out by Turkish organizations and companies having won this right through tenders.

The partners will set up a working group for studying the possibilities of implementing joint projects in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy in Russia, Turkey and third countries.

In 2007 the Turkish authorities decided to diversify the country’s energy sector and to develop nuclear energy (NPPs in Akkuyu in Antalia and in Sinop, Black Sea shore).

In Mar 2008 Turkey announced a tender for the right to build its first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu on «build-own-operate» terms. The potential supplier should ensure financing, construction and operation, while Turkey — licensing and guaranteed purchase of electric energy for 15 years till the end of 2030.

A consortium of Russian Atomstroyexport, Inter RAO UES and Turkish Park Teknik offered to build four 1,200MW reactors and to sell its energy at a fixed price for 15 years and at a market price afterwards. The 1st unit is supposed to be launched in 2016, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th units in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The Consortium’s NPP-2006 project was approved by TAEK Dec 19 2009.

On Aug 6 2009 Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko and Acting Director of the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (Turkiye Atom Enerjisi Kurumu, TAEK) Zafer Alper signed two inter-governmental agreements: an agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and an agreement for early notification of nuclear accident and exchange of information on nuclear facilities. The agreements were signed in the framework of the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Turkey.