Photo caption: Nigeria’s nuclear ambitions aided as Akkuyu NPP Unit 1 construction is completed
*Rosatom Director-General confirms completion of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 construction
Rosatom State Corporation management delegation headed by Director General Alexey Likhachev visited the Akkuyu NPP site (under construction by Rosatom State Corporation). During the visit, the head of Rosatom got acquainted with the progress of the start-up and adjustment works at Unit 1, where the construction works have been fully completed and active preparations are underway for the stage of cold-hot running-in of the reactor plant.
During the site tour Alexey Likhachev visited the central hall of the reactor compartment of Unit 1, where he was informed of the successful completion of dummy fuel assemblies loading into the reactor, as well as the completion of the reactor assembly. After loading the dummy reactor core, specialists installed a block of protective tubes and the upper reactor unit, completing one of the most important stages of preparing the reactor plant for cold-hot running-in.
“We have registered the completion of construction works. The cold hydraulic tests of the reactor started tonight, and this work will be completed within a few weeks. There will be just a few weeks left before the start of launch operations, and based on the results of all the work done, an overhaul will be carried out and adjustments will be made to the final stage. This inspiring moment can be compared to the final hundred-meter race on a 42-kilometer marathon course. It is the very last dash when you need to mobilise all your forces, and a very important topic of the final dash is the launch of the maintenance staff work. The staff of Unit 1 is 1,930 people, more than 40 % of these specialists are Turkish citizens. We are proud that these are graduates of our universities who are currently undergoing practical training at Russian simulators and nuclear power plants,” noted Rosatom Director General.
To ensure the station operates reliably, two key stages of run-in lie ahead. First, during the “cold” phase, specialists will check the density and strength of the equipment, perform circulating flushing of the first and second circuits, and adjust the water-chemical regime – this will confirm that all systems are ready for loads. Then comes the “hot” stage: at a temperature of at least 260 °C, the four main circulation pumps will be tested, along with safety and reactor control systems, to verify reliability under operating conditions. These procedures are part of the standards for Generation 3+ reactors, which are used at Akkuyu NPP – Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, comprising four such power units.
Nigeria is steadily advancing toward the development of its own nuclear energy sector. The country has already established partnership agreements with Rosatom, with site selection and preparation currently underway, along with the assessment of technical and economic aspects of future projects. The technological foundation consists of modern Russian Generation 3+ reactors, similar to those now being commissioned at the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey. For Nigeria, the completion of Unit 1 at Akkuyu is a tangible benchmark and confirmation that set goals are achievable through reliable international cooperation.
