Project presentation

The project for the construction of Türkiye's first nuclear power plant (4 units of Russian VVER technology of 1200 MW), is located on the site of Akkuyu, in the province of Mersin, situated in the south of the country on the Mediterranean Sea.

The first concrete was poured in April 2018, the first unit is scheduled to be connected to the Turkish electricity grid at the end of 2023, and the fourth unit in 2028.

Assystem has been accredited by NDK, the Turkish Nuclear Safety Authority, as an independent nuclear inspection body as defined by Turkish Law No. 30024.

Assystem started in early 2019, on behalf of a major player in the local nuclear industry, the performance of quality inspections of the construction and installation works of the buildings and systems important for nuclear safety of Unit 1 and part of Unit 2.

After 2 years of on-site services, Assystem was awarded a second similar contract extending its scope to the buildings and systems of unit 2 and part of units 3 and 4.

Project scope

  • Checking the conformity of materials and equipment important to nuclear safety delivered to the site and their storage conditions until installation or use for construction activities
  • Checking the conformity of construction and installation work on structures and elements important to nuclear safety (earthworks, reinforcement, formwork, concrete pouring, steel lining, welding, anchors, piping, electrical equipment, pressure equipment, nuclear equipment, etc.)
  • Detection of defects, deviations and non-conformities in relation to the regulations and/or the applicable technical reference system, verification of the correct processing of corrective and preventive actions
  • Interruption of work in the event of a major non-conformity that could have a significant impact on the final quality and/or nuclear safety of the installation

Client benefits

  • Support in obtaining the operating licence thanks to Assystem's contribution to the demonstration of the expected level of quality and nuclear safety through the independent verification of the conformity of the installations
  • Limitation of the impact of inspections on the construction schedule thanks to the implementation of a specific quality assurance system and the reactivity of competent and qualified local resources
  • Credibility of the safety of the Akkuyu project and help in developing its national and international image thanks to the independence and impartiality of the Assystem team
  • Optimisation of the cost and time impacts of defect correction through early and effective detection of non-conformities
  • By the end of 2020, nearly 12,000 on-site inspections had identified more than 700 deficiencies, the vast majority of which were corrected within a reasonable timeframe

Key figures

  • 130
    people involved
  • 12 000
    on-site inspections (by the end of 2020)
  • 8
    years contract

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