Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) announced that it granted a pre-licenseÌýto Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock Company for 36 months for Turkey's first nuclear power plant.
The Akkuyu Nuclear companyÌýwill build the Akkuyu Nuclear Power PlantÌýin the province of Mersin inÌýsouthern Turkey.ÌýItÌýwill becomeÌýfully operational in 2023, coinciding withÌýthe 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey.
The company willÌýcomplete its preparation process before EMRA considers issuingÌýa production license.ÌýDuring the preparation process, the company is required to obtain official construction andÌýenvironment impactÌýpermits.
"If the Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock CompanyÌýfulfills its obligation,Ìýit will get the production license,"ÌýMustafa Yilmaz, the head of EMRA, said in the authority's press release.
The construction of theÌýAkkuyu NPPÌýwill begin in 2016 and Russia's state-owned nuclear company, Rosatom, will have operating rights on theÌý$22 billionÌýplant,Ìýwhich will have a life cycle of 60 years.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu
Anadolu Agency
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