Türkiye targets 5,000 MW capacity in Small Modular Reactor expansion

Türkiye is targeting a significant expansion in its nuclear energy sector by focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The country aims to reach an SMR capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2050, a figure larger than the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. These reactors, which can be transported by truck, are designed to provide continuous electricity to industrial zones, military sites, and disaster areas.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar noted that SMRs represent a major opportunity in the new nuclear era, expressing hope that Turkish industrial dynamism could turn the country into a producer and developer of this technology. The strategy includes building large-scale plants in Sinop and Thrace, alongside the development of a local industrial ecosystem to boost employment and exports.

Globally, the nuclear sector is seeing a resurgence driven by rising electricity demand from AI data centers and net-zero emission goals. Projections suggest that of the $6 trillion required for the nuclear value chain between 2025 and 2050, approximately $1.5 trillion will be directed toward SMRs. These modular units are favored for their lower initial costs, shorter construction times, and flexibility in deployment.