Turkish minister says nuclear energy is a must

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
14 Apr 06

Ankara, 14 April: “Nuclear energy issue is not only a preference; it
is a must,” said Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi
Guler.

Guler held today a meeting in Ankara with 150 scientists from Turkish
Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) on nuclear energy.

Following the meeting, Guler told reporters, “Researches of TAEK and
related departments of universities on nuclear energy have been going
on for 56 years.”

Regarding the safety aspect of the issue, Guler said that they are
working on the safest and most modern methods.

On the other hand, TAEK Chairman Okay Cakiroglu said, “We have made a
preliminary study in Sinop. We haven’t still decided on the exact
place where the nuclear power plant will be built. Inceburun region of
Sinop is appropriate in geotechnical aspect. We will make our decision
within a year.”

Recalling that they can also build a nuclear power plant for civilian
use in Akkuyu (in southern city of Mersin), Cakiroglu said, “We did
not give up Akkuyu. We can build a power plant in Akkuyu any time if
necessary.”

He added, “However, we looked for another alternative because Akkuyu
is a tourist region. Thus we chose Sinop.”

When asked how long it will take to build a power plant, Cakiroglu
said that the construction may take 60 months.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday had selected Black
Sea city of Sinop as the city where the nuclear power plant will be
built.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress