Turkey’s first nuclear power plant construction to start next springOctober 11, 2014 - 18:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The construction of the nuclear power plant in Turkey will start next spring, the country’s Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said, according to Hurriyet Daily News. “We want to break ground on the Akkuyu nuclear plant in March or April,” Yıldız said, at a meeting where he also hosted Turkish students set to travel to Russia for nuclear engineering training. The nuclear plant, which is to be located near Akkuyu in the southern province of Mersin on the Mediterranean coast, will require investment worth $22 billion, Yıldız added. While the plant’s foundations will be dug in 2015, construction of its four reactors will not begin until 2016. The plant is planned to become partly operational in 2020 and fully operational in 2023, the 100-year anniversary of the Turkish Republic. In 2011, Russian company Rosatom signed an agreement with the Turkish Energy Ministry to build and operate the nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, Turkey’s second planned nuclear plant was awarded to a Japanese-French consortium last May. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd and Itochu Corporation, with France’s GDF Suez, will build the 4,800 MW plant in the Black Sea coastal city of Sinop, at an estimated cost of $22 billion. Japan is also bidding to build a third plant. Photo: Ensonhaber Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |