Within the framework of the project, and taking into consideration the technical criteria determined for the nuclear power plant; TAEK has proposed eight locations for the erection of the power plant.  The Council of Ministers is expected to choose one or several of the locations proposed to itself for the construction of the power plant.

The nuclear power plant in question, will be erected with high technology, in due consideration of the international standards and commitments.

Project; 

The project consists of the following objectives and activities

*In addition to the nuclear power plants; to increase the domestic contributions to the optimum level in the energy production facilities.

 * Establishment of the particle accelerators based on new design and production based researchers, and with the use of power reactors.  

 *Meeting the radio-isotope needs of medicine and industry through domestic resources

 * Establishment of fuel cycle facilities including uranium enrichment

* Exploration of uranium and torium

* Establishment of a nuclear technology center.                   
 
How was the power plant locations determined?
In determining the location of the power plant,  more than 40 parameters were  taken into consideration,  in particular, issues such as ‘procurement of cooling water, the presence of the flights of civil aircraft, social environment, earthquake proneness, risk of tsunami, international security’.

Emphasizing on the magnitude and the heavy weight of the materials used in the erection of power plants; the officials added as follows: “For example, the supporting materials should be capable of carrying parts that weigh 700 metric tons. Therefore, assessments were made regarding the harbors to be used, the roads, the viaducts and the bridges through which the loads will be conveyed.

License to the power plants will be issued by TAEK
According to the project, the license of the power plant will be issued by TAEK. The Energy Markets Regulatory Authority (EPDK) shall not be involved in the works relating to the construction of the nuclear power plant. 

In the oncoming period, the legislation regulating the subject matter shall be prepared and the responsibility concerning the issuance of license, may be withdrawn from  TAEK and assigned to a different authority to be established for this purpose.

Within the framework of the nuclear program, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) and TAEK will jointly initiate uranium exploration operations. Primarily, a map will be prepared regarding this subject matter and the entire landscape in Turkey will be scanned by aircraft; subsequently, a detailed exploration process will be initiated.

Concerns About ‘Waste Management’
In his statement, TAEK Chairman Okay Çakıroğlu has emphasized that at present, comprehensive security measures are being adopted for nuclear power plants, and that  once the required measures are duly implemented, there will be absolutely no reason for worrying about the environmental impacts of the nuclear power plants.

Mr. Çakıroğlu added that the Turkish public opinion has developed wrong opinions on nuclear wastes, and that the term ‘nuclear waste’ is an intimidating concept among the population.

Indicating that the nuclear wastes contain certain precious substances such as platinum, and that such wastes were highly in demand among countries such as Russia and France; Mr. Çakıroğlu added as follows:  “Such wastes can be exported. If we adopt a very big program, warehouses can be built for wastes and the wastes can be stored in such warehouses. The wastes can be recycled, as they contain precious substances.”