Two Key Milestones Completed at Akkuyu NPP's Second and Third Power Units
AKKUYU NGS'NİN 2’NCİ VE 3’ÜNCÜ GÜÇ ÜNİTELERİNDE İKİ ÖNEMLİ AŞAMA TAMAMLANDI
As the assembly of the reactor — one of the most critical assembly operations during the construction phase of the power unit — was completed at Unit 3 of the plant, the fuel to be used in Unit 2 was also successfully delivered to the site.
At Santralin Unit 3, the reactor vessel installation—one of the most critical assembly operations during the power unit's construction phase—has been completed, while fuel for Unit 2 has also been successfully delivered to the site.
Two major operations took place at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS) construction site in Mersin, built by Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom. Santralin thermal assembly specialists positioned the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 3 into its design location, while the first batch of fresh nuclear fuel for Unit 2 was delivered to the site.
The reactor pressure vessel for Unit 3 was installed using "Open top" technology. The "Open top" technology, which allows equipment to be supplied to the pressurized area through the open upper section of the reactor building's cylindrical part, enables construction and assembly work to be optimally coordinated before the dome section of the internal protective vessel is installed.
Following completion of the reactor pressure vessel installation, a commission comprising experts from Akkuyu Nuclear A.Ş., as well as independent inspection bodies Turkish Lloyd and Turkey's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK), conducted an inspection of the reactor vessel installation quality.
In the final days of 2024, nuclear fuel produced for Unit 2 also arrived at the Akkuyu NGS site. Fuel assemblies were delivered to the site in specialized transport containers and placed in the fresh fuel storage facility, where they are being held in compliance with all international nuclear safety requirements.
Sergey Butckikh, General Director of Akkuyu Nuclear A.Ş., made the following statement regarding the matter: "As in previous years, work dynamics at the site were very high in 2024. We completed the major operations foreseen in the project schedule. The heart of Akkuyu NGS's Unit 3 has been installed—that is, we successfully completed the critical work on the nuclear reactor vessel installation. Like all other construction and assembly work at the site, the reactor vessel installation required meticulous preparation, highly qualified specialists, and special care at every stage. Additionally, in December we delivered the first batch of fuel for Unit 2 to the Akkuyu NGS site. The fuel was transported to Turkey by land and sea in leak-proof containers under strict coordination between the relevant units of Akkuyu Nuclear A.Ş., the production facility, and regulatory authorities. Before being loaded into the reactor, the containers will be kept under special conditions at the fresh fuel storage facility at the NGS site."
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