Erdoğan, Putin speak over phone ahead of nuclear plant opening

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone ahead of the opening ceremony for a nuclear plant built by Russia's Rosatom in the coastal town of Akkuyu, Mersin province.

After being advised by doctors to stay home due to falling ill during a live TV broadcast on Tuesday night, Erdogan will participate in the ceremony through a video conference.

According to a statement from the Presidency Communication Directorate, the two leaders discussed Turkey-Russia relations, regional issues, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, and recent developments in Syria, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the grain agreement.

Also, Putin conveyed his wishes for Erdogan's speedy recovery during the phone call, said the directorate.

While the Akkuyu plant is still under construction, it will be officially granted nuclear facility status after nuclear fuel is delivered to the plant for the first time after today's ceremony.

The Akkuyu plant is among the "mega projects" that the government has revealed before the crucial elections on May 14. Other initiatives unveiled include the debut of a "drone carrier" warship and the first fleet of TOGG electric cars taking to the roads.

The Akkuyu plant

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power project currently under construction in Akkuyu, a coastal town in Mersin province, Turkey. The project is being developed by Rosatom, a state-owned nuclear energy company.

The project has been in development for several years and has faced significant opposition from environmentalists and members of the public who are concerned about the potential risks associated with nuclear power. Despite these concerns, the government has pushed ahead with the project, citing the need for increased energy security and a reduction in dependence on imported energy sources.

Once completed, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is expected to have a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts and will generate around 35 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, making it one of the largest nuclear power plants in the world. (VC/VK)