Ministry approves Environmental Impact Assessment report of Sinop Nuclear Plant
* Photo: Archive / Anadolu Agency (AA)
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The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has approved the final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of Sinop Nuclear Power Plant, thereby giving a "positive EIA" decision for the project.
According to the statement released by the Ministry yesterday (September 14), the report was examined and evaluated by the Commission of Inspection and Survey and approved by considering the Commission's works and "people's opinions" as per the Article 14 of the EIA regulations.
However, the Sinop Anti-Nuclear Platform (NKP) members have announced that they will file a lawsuit against the report. Moreover, several citizens and civil society organizations will apply to Sinop Provincial Municipality and object to the Ministry's approval for the EIA report.
Announcement by Provincial Directorate
The approval has also been shared with the public by the Sinop Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization in a statement.
The statement of the directorate has reiterated that "the EIA Report submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization regarding the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant project planned to be undertaken by the EUAS International ICC Central Jersey Islands Turkey Central Branch in the İnceburun area of Abalı Village in Merkez district of Sinop province has been examined and evaluated by the Commission of Inspection and Survey."
Indicating that "a positive EIA" decision has been made by the Ministry by considering the Commission's works and "people's opinions" as per the Article 14 of the EIA regulations, the statement has said, "...the decision shall be announced to the public by the Governor's Office of Sinop (Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization."
The directorate has also reminded the related parties that the points indicated in the Final EIA report and its addenda as well as the related articles of the enacted regulations as per the Environment Law no. 2872 shall be abided by and the necessary permissions shall be taken from the relevant institutions and organizations as per the legislation in force.
About Sinop Nuclear Power PlantThere had been an attempt to establish a nuclear power plant in Turkey's Black Sea province of Sinop since the 1990s. Accordingly, an international agreement and cooperation deal was signed between Turkey and Japan on May 3, 2013. It foresaw that the entire technology and a major part of the funding would be provided by Japan. The agreement between the countries was approved by the General Assembly of the Parliament in April 2015. While it was planned that the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant would be established with a 20 billion dollar investment, it also became the second projectized nuclear power plant in Turkey after Akkuyu Nuclear Plant. Planned to have 4 thousand 800 MW power and operate with Atmea 1 type reactors, the power plant's construction would be undertaken by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Itochu Corp. from Japan and GDF Suez from France for 22 billion dollars. The reactors were to be produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Areva from France. Construction started in 2017 The Sinop Nuclear Power Plant was planned to be constructed in İnceburun, which encompasses Akliman, Sarıkum and Hamsilos Nature Parks. The construction started in 2017. Around 2 thousand people living in Abalı Village near İnceburun were evicted from their village as part of these works. Agreement was broken Indicating that the feasibility report prepared by Japan was not in accord with the first agreement in terms of both the costs and schedule, Turkey announced that Japan and Turkey agreed to cease the cooperation. Erdoğan said 'it was halted' President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a statement on June 27, 2019, when he was in Japan for the G-20 summit and would meet with Japan PM Shinzo Abe. President Erdoğan announced that the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant Project, which was among the AKP's 2023 goals, was halted. The happiest city of TurkeyAccording to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) surveys, Sinop is the happiest city in Turkey though it ranks worse in terms of healthcare services and infrastructure. Sinop is also the birthplace of Diogenes, or Diogenes the Cynic, who was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy. Having a poor life and living in a tub there 2,300 years ago, used his simple lifestyle and behaviour to criticize the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt, confused society. Since 2016, Sinop has been hosting a Diogenes statue, which is seen as a link between the city and his philosophy. 145 reactors closed across the worldNuclear power plants have been operating in the world since 1954. 31 countries, ranging from the US to Armenia, have nuclear plants. There are also around 20 countries like Turkey that are planning to have new nuclear power plants. 69 reactors are in construction; while 58 of them are in Asia, 11 are in the West. 436 reactors have been operating in 193 nuclear power plants across the world. 145 reactors have been shut down so far. Germany, Spain and Belgium have decided to close them all. |
(TP/SD)