ANKARA:The Leaders of Turkey and Russia marked the official start of work to build Turkey's first Nuclear Power Station, launching construction of the 20 Billion Dollars Akkuyu Plant in the Southern Province of Mersin.
The plant will be built by Russian State Nuclear Energy Agency Rosatom and will be made up of four units each with a Capacity of 1,200 Megawatts.
Speaking at a News Conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan said the cost of the project may exceed the planned 20 Billion Dollars for the 4,800 Megawatt Plant.
It is part of Erdogan's "2023 Vision" marking 100 years since the founding of Modern Turkey and intended to reduce Turkey's Dependence on Energy Imports.
Since Russia was awarded the contract in 2010, the project has been beset by delays.
Erdogan told the News Conference Turkey may cooperate with Russia on Defence projects besides the S-400 Missile Defence System which Moscow has agreed to Supply to Ankara.
Turkey signed an Agreement to buy the S-400 System in late December in a move which raised concern in the west because it cannot be integrated into Nato's Military Architecture.
APP/AFP