Türkiye and Bulgaria Join Forces in Nuclear Energy

The Nuclear Industry Association (NSD) and the Bulgarian Nuclear Forum (BULATOM) signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of nuclear energy at the 11th Nuclear Power Plants Summit - NPPES, held on 1-2 July 2025. This agreement opens the door to new partnerships between Turkey and Bulgaria in the nuclear energy sector, while also representing a strategic step for regional energy cooperation.

New opportunities for collaboration on the horizon
This memorandum of understanding aims to increase inter-country dialogue in areas such as information and experience sharing, technical cooperation and implementation of joint projects. This bridge established between Turkey and Bulgaria's leading sectoral organisations seeks to create regional synergy centred on nuclear energy. Joint projects in areas such as education, human resources development and technology transfer are on the agenda. NSD Chairman Alikaan Çiftçi and BULATOM Board Member Petar Manchev participated in the signing ceremony.

"We are strengthening our regional outlook"
Nuclear Industry Association Chairman Alikaan Çiftçi said: "This cooperation we have established with our neighbour Bulgaria in a strategic area such as nuclear energy will strengthen not only relations between our countries, but also regional energy integration. Like Turkey, Bulgaria is placing nuclear energy in a strategic position to increase energy supply security, reduce foreign dependency and lower carbon emissions. In particular, its investment targets in the field of small modular reactors (SMR) overlap significantly with Turkey's investment vision in this area. In this regard, we consider it highly valuable that our collaborations turn into joint projects and concrete steps are taken that will contribute to sustainable development in our region."

"This cooperation could create a regional model"
BULATOM Board Member Petar Manchev emphasised that the agreement would contribute to nuclear cooperation not only between the two countries but across the region, continuing as follows: "The memorandum of understanding we have signed with Turkey's Nuclear Industry Association provides the opportunity to identify opportunities and projects where industrialists from both countries can cooperate. We believe in the strategic role of nuclear energy in our region, which serves as a bridge between Europe and Asia, in sustainable and clean energy transformation. By developing joint projects with Turkey, we can create models that will set an example not only for our own countries but also for neighbouring countries. We participated in the Nuclear Power Plants Summit with our members and met with representatives of Turkish nuclear industry. The connections we made at the Summit will be an important opportunity for us to take concrete steps in this field."

NPPES is organised by ASO and NSD
Turkey's first and only nuclear energy event, the 11th Nuclear Power Plants Summit, is being organised by Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) and the Nuclear Industry Association (NSD) with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.