SHOTLIST: MERSIN, TÜRKİYE (RECENT, SEPT. 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION SITE 2. VARIOUS OF STAFF ON SITE 3. OFFICIALS HAVING MEETING OVER LATEST DEVELOPMENTS MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEP. 25, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) ANTON DEDUSENKO, CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AKKUYU NUCLEAR JOINT STOCK COMPANY (JSC), SAYING: "…The unit's systems and components are being made operational and checked for compliance with the project's criteria and specifications…" "These measures are necessary to meet nuclear safety requirements and ensure the plant's reliable operation for many years to come.” “The project team is working to deliver the first atomic kilowatt to Türkiye's energy system as soon as possible. Switchgear equipment that had to be re-contracted from China in 2024 after supply delays from a previous provider is expected to be ready for power-up this year.” “The initial localization volume was estimated at $4 billion, he said the figure has now reached $11 billion when tax payments to Türkiye are included. Roughly 2,000 companies have joined as suppliers and contractors, providing materials, equipment, services, and on-site logistics. Most construction materials used at the site are locally produced.” “Turkish companies have quickly adapted to the nuclear sector's requirements by upgrading production processes and gaining certification to deliver more complex products.” "They are increasing order volumes and becoming more competitive.” MERSIN, TÜRKİYE - RECENT, SEPT: Main construction work on the first unit of Türkiye's inaugural nuclear power plant has been completed, with systems and components now being prepared for operation and verified against project standards, the project's top executive said Thursday. Anton Dedusenko, chairman of the board of directors of Akkuyu Nuclear Joint Stock Company (JSC), told reporters on the sidelines of the World Atomic Week in Moscow that all four units at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant are under simultaneous construction. The immediate focus, he noted, is on commissioning the first unit, which has entered a pre-commissioning phase involving comprehensive testing of its systems. Dedusenko said construction of the marine and coastal hydraulic facilities that will supply technical water to the reactors is nearly complete, along with advancement in the installation of current paths and related equipment in the gas-insulated switchgear building, which will transmit electricity from the plant to the grid, with work expected to be finished by the end of 2025. He described the switchgear as essential to operations, comparing the reactor to the human heart and the switchgear to the nervous system that distributes electricity to consumers, primarily Türkiye's national grid. Commissioning a nuclear unit is a multi-stage process, Dedusenko said. "One of the final stages of preparations for the start-up of the first unit is now underway." "The unit's systems and components are being made operational and checked for compliance with the project's criteria and specifications," he said. "These measures are necessary to meet nuclear safety requirements and ensure the plant's reliable operation for many years to come," he added. The project team is working to deliver the first atomic kilowatt to Türkiye's energy system as soon as possible, he said. Switchgear equipment that had to be re-contracted from China in 2024 after supply delays from a previous provider is expected to be ready for power-up this year, he added. - Turkish nuclear suppliers enter global arena Dedusenko also underlined the growing role of Turkish suppliers in the project. While the initial localization volume was estimated at $4 billion, he said the figure has now reached $11 billion when tax payments to Türkiye are included. Roughly 2,000 companies have joined as suppliers and contractors, providing materials, equipment, services, and on-site logistics. Most construction materials used at the site are locally produced, he added. Turkish companies have quickly adapted to the nuclear sector's requirements by upgrading production processes and gaining certification to deliver more complex products, Dedusenko said. "They are increasing order volumes and becoming more competitive," he noted, adding that many are now eyeing participation in nuclear projects abroad. As examples, he pointed to Nuclear Technical Support JSC (NUTED), the technical support body of Türkiye's nuclear regulator, which signed a contract to provide equipment inspection services for Hungary's Paks-2 project. Turkish construction firms are also contributing to the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant in Egypt, he said.