In his address, Erdoğan announced that the delivery of nuclear fuel by sea and air to the plant has officially granted Akkuyu NPP the status of a nuclear power plant, placing Turkey among the countries possessing nuclear power.

The President expressed gratitude to all those involved in the construction and implementation of the power plant, particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish and Russian personnel.

He also noted that the European Commission's labeling of nuclear energy as "green" last year eliminated any hesitation towards nuclear energy and that Türkiye's involvement in the Akkuyu project has made the country part of these developments.

Erdoğan expressed hope that this strategic step would be beneficial for the country and the people.

The Akkuyu NPP is a nuclear power plant currently under construction in Mersin Province, Turkey.

It is being built by the Russian state-owned nuclear company Rosatom, and is expected to cost around $20 billion.

The power plant will have a total installed capacity of 4,800 MW, which will make it the largest nuclear power plant in Turkey, and one of the largest in the world.

It will consist of four VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW.

Construction of the Akkuyu NPP began in April 2018, and the first unit is expected to begin commercial operation in 2023.

Once completed, the Akkuyu NPP is expected to generate around 35 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is equivalent to about 10% of Turkey's current electricity consumption. (ILKHA)