OREANDA-NEWS. GDF SUEZ welcomes the signature of the inter-governmental agreement between Turkey and Japan, which provides for the construction of a nuclear power plant at Sinop in Turkey. The choice by the Turkish authorities of the 3rd generation ATMEA1 reactor is excellent news. GDF SUEZ has always pushed the development of this technology, as it is perfectly suited to the requirements of many countries that want to develop or include nuclear power in their energy mix.

GDF SUEZ is taking part in the project, by providing its expertise as a nuclear power developer and operator. The Group’s contribution will begin with feasibility studies for the site, followed by a thorough assessment of the pre-conditions from a financial, business, legal and regulatory perspective. These studies will enable the Group to make a long-term commitment to its participation as joint investor and joint operator alongside the Japanese and Turkish parties.

Gerard Mestrallet said: “We are delighted to be part of this project along with our Japanese partners MHI and Itochu and with our Turkish partner EUAS which enables the French nuclear industry to develop its offer abroad. Turkey has always been an important country for GDF SUEZ. We have been operating in the country for several decades, across all activities. The trust that has been placed in us through this project is formal confirmation of our commitment to the country and our nuclear expertise.”

GDF SUEZ operates across all its business lines in Turkey. In particular, the Group operates the Baymina (770 MW) and Uni-Mar (488 MW) power plants, it operates Izgaz, the country’s third largest natural gas transmission network, and has also established a presence in energy and environmental services.