Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to sue Germany's Siemens for failing to supply equipment for the Akkuyu power plant in Türkiye, according to CEO Aleksey Likhachev.
In an interview with Russia 24 TV channel, Mr. Likhachev said that the equipment was sourced from alternative suppliers to ensure the construction was on schedule.
"Clearly there will be litigation. The equipment was prepaid but not delivered. This will cost us additional costs, both for the purchase of specific equipment and for adjusting the timing of its installation. These are the claims that will be filed," Likhachev said.
The Akkuyu NPP - located in Türkiye's southern Mersin province - is expected to become the country's first nuclear power plant.
The plant was built under a 2010 agreement between Russia and Türkiye. The plant's first nuclear reactor was originally scheduled to be operational in 2023. However, delays in installation pushed the schedule back.
Rosatom has not yet announced a date for when the first reactor will be put into operation. All four reactors at Akkuyu, each capable of producing 1,200 megawatts of electricity, are scheduled to be operational by 2028.
Once fully operational, the $20 billion facility is expected to meet 10% of Türkiye's electricity needs, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar revealed.
Last July, Mr. Likhachev admitted that Western sanctions imposed on Russia had posed challenges, especially in financial transactions and equipment purchases.
Türkiye's Energy Minister announced the situation last September, stressing that Siemens' failure to deliver equipment was the reason for the project's delay.
The decision, he said, was likely prompted by Western sanctions against Russia following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine.
"If Siemens targets sanctions against Russia, Türkiye will also be heavily affected by this decision," said Mr. Bayraktar.
He said Ankara had reported the matter “to the highest level”. The Turkish official also stressed that the German company should pay the price for this action.
Türkiye currently maintains relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Mr. Bayraktar revealed that Rosatom has sourced replacement equipment from factories in China to minimize the impact on the progress of the nuclear power plant project in Türkiye.
Last September, a Siemens spokesperson confirmed that many components had not yet been delivered to Türkiye due to German export regulations.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Likhachev emphasized that the construction of the nuclear power plant in Türkiye is progressing as planned. He noted that similar nuclear power projects in Bangladesh and Egypt are progressing as planned.
