Another significant engineering milestone has been achieved at the 4th power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Turkey's first nuclear power plant. In the project, the pressure support, one of the main construction elements of the reactor shaft located in the center of the reactor building, has been installed in its designated position. The first unit of Akkuyu NPP is planned to start electricity generation in 2026.
According to Redaksiya, the installation work carried out at the fourth unit of the plant, being built by Rosatom in Mersin, was executed by first assembling the components brought to the site in parts and then completing the welding operations. After this process, heavy machinery was carefully placed at the planned point. The installation of the nuclear island structures in the construction area where the 4th Power Unit is located continues in accordance with the planned schedule. Sergey Butskikh, General Director of AKKUYU NÜKLEER A.Ş., which is undertaking the project management, emphasized that the completion of the assembly is a significant achievement in the construction of the unit.
According to Butskikh, the installation of large-volume equipment requires a large-scale process that is not limited to technical preparation alone. Careful analysis of meteorological conditions, readiness of supporting metal structures, availability of necessary equipment on site, and coordination of qualified personnel are among the decisive factors in this process. Officials stated that after the completion of this step, the next phase in the construction of the reactor shaft will begin, and the shaft will be filled with special composite concrete. This is a critical part for the safety of the reactor shaft.
In a power unit with VVER-1200 type reactors, the reactor shaft is designed as a cylindrical reinforced concrete structure located in the center of the reactor building. This structure performs the function of placing, fixing, and protecting the reactor pressure vessel in all operating modes of the plant. Among the main construction components of the reactor shaft are the dry containment, the support bracket, and the pressure support. The pressure support, one of these, stands out as a key element ensuring the safe fixation of the reactor pressure vessel within the concrete shaft.
The technical specifications of this large-volume component, designed as a welded metal structure, are also noteworthy. It is noted that the pressure support, with a diameter of over 7 meters, a height of approximately 1 meter, and a weight of approximately 27 tons, will play a critical role in ensuring the structural integrity of the reactor system. Akkuyu NPP holds the distinction of being the first nuclear power plant built in Turkey. Within the scope of the project, four 3+ generation VVER reactor power units, each with an electric power generation capacity of 1200 MW, are being installed. The plant also stands out as one of the first projects in the global nuclear energy sector to be implemented under the "Build-Own-Operate" model. Under this model, Rosatom and its affiliated companies, who prepared the project, undertake the construction, ownership, and operation of the plant.