Türkiye regulations · 15 November 2026
Bayraktar says Akkuyu physical startup is planned within weeks
The ministry’s 13 November announcement outlines an expected physical startup at Akkuyu and a target of 20 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the physical startup of Türkiye’s first nuclear power reactor at Akkuyu would take place within the next few weeks. His remarks, published by the ministry on 13 November 2026, also covered Türkiye’s electrification approach and long-term nuclear capacity targets. [Source](https://enerji.gov.tr/haber-detay?id=31974)
The next step announced for Akkuyu
Bayraktar spoke at the opening of World Atomic Days, organised by Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation ROSATOM on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya. His timetable for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under construction, concerned an expected physical reactor startup. The announcement does not say that this step has been completed and gives neither an exact day nor a date for commercial electricity production. It is therefore not an announcement of completed commissioning. Source
Official source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources ↗A call for 35% electrification by 2035
The minister said Türkiye had put forward a global target of increasing the electrification rate to 35% by 2035 in the context of COP31. Calling the target ambitious and difficult, he argued that nuclear energy was needed to achieve it. He described Türkiye’s conference approach as moving from targets to action and acting now against climate change by electrifying economies. Source At the subsequent Nuclear Energy for People and the Planet panel, Bayraktar said everyone was being invited to commit to the 35% target. He recalled that the National Energy 2040 vision had been announced to explain what Türkiye was doing in this area. Electrifying the economy, he said, was one of the plan’s core objectives. The ministry report does not present this invitation as a binding regulation. Source
Official source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources ↗Capacity ambitions for 2050
Bayraktar outlined targets of at least 15 gigawatts from large-scale nuclear reactors and at least 5 gigawatts from small modular reactors. Together, these would deliver a targeted 20 gigawatts of installed nuclear capacity in 2050. He said this could meet at least 10–12% of electricity needs and reduce carbon emissions. These figures describe the minister’s future targets and expectations, rather than existing capacity or measured emissions outcomes. Source
Official source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources ↗Workforce and localisation
Discussing extensive nuclear cooperation with Russia, Bayraktar said more than 300 students who had graduated from Russian universities and colleges were working at Akkuyu. He described this workforce as an important achievement in the context of Türkiye’s wish to build more nuclear plants. He also said localisation was an important part of the programme and that its rate had exceeded 50%. The announcement does not provide details of how that rate was calculated. Source
Official source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources ↗Related news
COP31 panels highlight €38 billion investment need for Türkiye’s industrial transition ↗
Kurum outlines 2035 targets and climate finance mechanism at COP31 panel ↗
Bolat stresses predictability and finance for industrial decarbonisation at COP31 ↗