Turkey to build nuclear power plant

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Turkish parliament voted Thursday evening to adopt legislation setting out the terms for the establishment and management of nuclear power plants and the sale of electricity produced by the power stations.



The law foresees the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) laying down the criteria required for companies that are willing to establish and operate a nuclear power plant. After the regulation is passed, Turkish Electricity Trade & Contract Corporation (TETAS) will open a tender for nuclear power plants. At the end of the tender process, the awarded companies and TETAS will sign a contract.



The legislation had previously been passed by the parliament earlier this year but had been vetoed by then President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Who had requested the parliament to give more consideration to the bill.



Turkey's Council of Minister has been tasked with deciding on establishing a public company to build and manage a power station, and the terms of selling the electricity produced. Private companies can have shares in this public company.



Under the law, the companies that will establish and/or manage a nuclear power plant will not have to get a license from the Energy Market Regulation Board (EPDK) before submitting their bids for the tender. The company that wins the tender will get the license before it starts fulfilling the project, NTV reports.