IEA Study: Turkey’s Nuclear Plans Are ‘Step Forward’ To Low-Carbon Economy
Written by NucNet
Monday, 26 July 2010
Turkey’s plans to launch a domestic nuclear power programme are a “step in the right direction” towards building a low-carbon economy, according to a new study from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka encouraged the country to further reform its energy sector when he presented ‘Energy Policies of IEA Countries Turkey 2009’ in the Turkish capital of Ankara on 23 July 2010*.
Turkey needs large investments in energy infrastructure, especially in electricity and natural gas, to be able to supply affordable energy to its people and to sustain rapid economic growth, Mr Tanaka said. To attract that investment, the country needs to continue reforming its energy market, he added.
“On a global scale, we need a transition to a low-carbon economy, a revolution in how we produce and consume energy. We must also decarbonise power generation and transport Turkey’s plans to increase the use of renewable energy sources and to build nuclear power are clear steps in the right direction,” Mr Tanaka said.
Last May, Russia and Turkey agreed to cooperate on the construction and operation of what would be Turkey’s first nuclear power plant. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev signed an inter-governmental agreement for the proposed plant with Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mr Erdogan said the project would be subject to ratification by Turkey’s parliament. The proposed plant site, which could host up to four Russian VVER-1200 reactors, is near Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast.
* Details of how to order the study are on the IEA’s website.
