Türkiye Eyes U.S. and South Korea Partnership for Second Nuclear Power Plant

Türkiye is considering a joint partnership with the United States and South Korea for the construction of its second nuclear power plant, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Thursday. He said the collaboration could take the form of a trilateral model involving all three countries.
The country plans to establish three large-scale nuclear facilities as part of its long-term energy strategy. The first, the Akkuyu plant in Mersin, is being built by Russia’s Rosatom and is expected to have its first reactor operational by 2026. For the next two plants — to be built in Sinop and Thrace — Türkiye is in active talks with Russia, China, Canada, and South Korea.
Bayraktar emphasized Türkiye’s goal of ensuring affordable energy, securing technology transfers, and gaining expertise from foreign partners. He said the Akkuyu project’s agreement with Russia serves as a model for future deals. The Akkuyu facility, worth $20 billion, will have four reactors producing 4.8 GW of power, eventually supplying about 10% of Türkiye’s electricity.
In addition to nuclear projects, Türkiye is expanding its role in regional energy cooperation through liquified natural gas (LNG) initiatives. The country recently began exporting LNG using floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) ships under an accord with Egypt and is in similar talks with Morocco. Bayraktar noted these efforts aim to enhance Türkiye’s position as a regional energy hub while addressing seasonal supply needs.