Turkey aims to have at least 20 nuclear reactors by 2030

Turkey hopes to have at least 20 nuclear reactors operating in the country by 2030, Energy and Natural Resources Undersecretary Metin Kilci told Reuters this week, but added that this target is not yet an official government plan. Turkey has already agreed with Russia on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the southern province of Mersin and is set to start official talks with Japan on another plant in the northern province of Sinop. Kilci stressed that the ministry is striving to ensure that the private contracting parties assume all the risks in the plants' construction, adding that developing its nuclear energy capabilities should be a top priority for Turkey. In related news, French Ambassador to Turkey Bernard Emie said that a number of French companies are interested in nuclear energy projects in Turkey "For example, Areva builds nuclear power plant cores. EDF and GDFSUEZ are two large companies operating in the field," he told Reuters. "These companies are engaged in activities in many fields in Turkey and know the country very well. We have very important knowledge and technical expertise in the field of nuclear energy and we are ready if Turkish authorities are interested in working with French companies." Emie added that the French are closely following the ongoing talks with Russia and Japan. French companies are also interested in transportation and other construction projects as well as a planned third bridge over the Bosporus, he added. "Frankly, Turkey is in our radar and it is one of the fundamental priorities of the French business world," he said.