Turkey's first nuclear power plant by 2015

Haci Duran Gokkaya, director general of TETAS, told the Anatolian Agency that the legal groundwork was complete and Turkey was ready to produce nuclear energy and the tender process, which started on March 24, would end on September 24, 2008.     Â

Four companies have so far expressed interest in the tender, but this number is likely to increase to 10-15 before the end of September, Gokkaya said. "A nuclear power plant costs $10-15 billion to build. Energy production through nuclear means has become more attractive thanks to support from the state," he said.

AECL of Canada, Hochu of Japan, Vinci Corp of France and Suez-Tractabel of Belgium submitted bids for the construction of a 4,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in the town of Akkuyu in Mersin, a southern province of Turkey.

Among the local companies that have expressed an interest the nuclear power plant construction are local conglomerates, Sabanci Holding and Koc Holding. Energy-to-construction firm Enka Insaat said in January it had an agreement with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to work together on nuclear energy in Turkey. Zorlu Enerji has said it was in talks with several large firms regarding the nuclear construction project in Turkey.    Â

Photo: AA