Turkey Akkuyu nuclear plant controversy

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, built under a 2013 intergovernmental agreement between Turkey and Russia, has become a focal point of financial and political controversy. In late July 2026, a Turkish parliamentarian presented documents alleging that the project has already granted Russia nearly $9.8 billion in incentives and warned that recent tax‑exemption legislation could add another $5 billion to Turkish taxpayers’ burden. He argued that the deal gives Russia long‑term revenue of about $478 billion and ties Turkey to Russian electricity purchases until 2125.

A week later, analysts highlighted the plant’s cost structure: a 15‑year power‑purchase agreement guarantees a price of 12.35 cents per kilowatt‑hour—roughly three times market rates—resulting in an estimated $22.4 billion extra cost to the state over the contract term. The omnibus law passed by parliament in July 2026 removed stamp tax and provided VAT exemptions for construction, further reducing fiscal pressure on the project but increasing the overall financial load on Turkey. Despite more than a decade of construction, none of the units are operational, prompting calls for alternative, distributed energy solutions.