OREANDA-NEWS. GDF SUEZ is pleased to have received the formal approval from the Turkish Parliament for the nuclear power plant project near Sinop in Turkey. This project is being developed within a Japanese-French-Turkish international consortium involving GDF SUEZ. The approval is for the Inter-Governmental Agreement between Turkey and Japan and the Host Government Agreement, which is a commercial agreement between the consortium members and the Government of Turkey.

This proposed 4,400 MW Nuclear Power Plant project consists of four ATMEA1 nuclear power units built on a site in the Sinop district on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. ATMEA1 is a generation III+ pressurized water reactor (PWR) designed to the highest standards of safety, reliability and operating economy by a company co-owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and AREVA.

Following this approval, the consortium will pursue a feasibility study for the Nuclear Power Plant. It will carry out various assessments, including geological surveys, seismic hazard and environmental impact assessments in order to assess the suitability of the proposed construction site. The consortium will also undertake the preparation and assessment of the contractual and financing framework of the project.

Through localized procurement and development of local human resources to build, operate and maintain the new reactors, the project is expected to contribute significantly to the development of Turkey’s economy.

GDF SUEZ operates seven nuclear reactors in Belgium at Doel and Tihange with an installed power capacity of around 6,000 MW in Europe. The Group is supporting new developments in third generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) technologies which are the result of advanced engineering incorporating modern safety standards in accordance with extremely demanding requirements.

GDF SUEZ has a long-standing presence in the Turkish market with activities involving power generation, gas distribution, retail and trading. GDF SUEZ has interests in approximately 1,250 MW of power generation capacity in Turkey through the Baymina and Unimar gas-fired power plants. The Group also owns Izgaz, the country’s third largest gas distribution company.