‘No emergency drill conducted at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant this year’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Ahmet Akın, the Vice Chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has announced that no emergency drill was conducted at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey's Mediterranean province of Mersin this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a written statement released by Akın, it is indicated that "in its 2020 activity report, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has made a confession that will lead to concerns about the plant's safety."

'It must be fully conducted'

As indicated by Akın, the report has shown that the emergency drill planned to be conducted inside the Akkuyu site every year "could not be conducted in 2020 as part of COVID-19 outbreak restrictions."

Commenting on these remarks, Akın has said, "It is unacceptable that in such a vital matter, the emergency drill is not conducted with the outbreak used as an excuse. Causing concerns due to the explosions that occur even during the construction, the power plant's safety must be ensured by evaluating all possibilities and taking the necessary safety measures."

CHP's Ahmet Akın has also underlined that emergency drills must also be fully conducted within this context.

Purchasing guarantee for 3 times the price

Akın has also noted that there are criticisms about "purchasing guarantee" given for the power plant, in addition to safety concerns.

Reminding the public that the possession and operation of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant will be of Russia, Akın has said that "when the plant starts operating, Turkey will give a purchasing guarantee for 12.35 dollars, which is almost three times the market price, for 15 years." (DŞ/SD)