R7: Stop the Akkuyu Nuclear Plant

The disaster at the nuclear plant in Fukushima (11 March 2011) is a strong example of what we may expect from a nuclear power station. The plant could not resist the impact of a 9-degree (on the Richter scale) earthquake and the consequential tsunami. Can such events be considered as accidents which may always happen? How risky is it to build nuclear plants in seismogenic areas and why not encourage the use of renewable energy resources? This challenge applies in the case of Akkuyu.

The European Green Party (EGP) is against the use of nuclear activities for energy security and/or low carbon energy production. Already the EGP and the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament have called for the European Commission to keep nuclear activities outside of the EU Taxonomy, the new green language for enviromental sustainable economic activities. Even though nuclear energy emits relatively little CO2 per kwh, it does not pass the EU law’s requirement to avoid significant harm to other environmental objectives, like sustainable use of water or prevention of pollution.

This becomes clear in the case of the Akkuya Nuclear Power Plant.

The disaster at the nuclear plant in Fukushima (11 March 2011) is a strong example of what we may expect from a nuclear power station. The plant could not resist the impact of a 9-degree (on the Richter scale) earthquake and the consequential tsunami. Can such events be considered as accidents which may always happen? How risky is it to build nuclear plants in seismogenic areas and why not encourage the use of renewable energy resources? This challenge applies in the case of Akkuyu. The Turkish government has essentially given the site to Russia. The Turkish state doesn’t have any authority to intervene in the operational or the building phase of the reactor. Even the control mechanisms are not clear in the contract.

The disaster at the nuclear plant in Fukushima (11 March 2011) is a strong example of what we may expect from a nuclear power station. The plant could not resist the impact of a 9-degree (on the Richter scale) earthquake and the consequential tsunami. Can such events not be considered as accidents which may always happen? How risky is it to build nuclear plants in seismogenic areas and why not encourage the use of renewable energy resources? This challenge applies in the case of Akkuyu.

The impact of a failure in the safety systems at such a plant or an earthquake is a high risk with inevitably catastrophic consequences for the region. The Russian- financed Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in southern Turkey sits on a major plate tectonic fault line. The Akkuyu-Mersin region is particularly subject to earthquakes and has repeatedly experienced earthquakes of a size of over 6 on the Richter scale; the power station is to be sited only 25 km from an active seismic fault which has provoked strong reactions from environmental organisations and experts in the field. In case of a nuclear accident, not only the area of Akkuyu would be in danger, but also Cyprus, the Greek Dodecanese region and the whole of the south-east Mediterranean region. Even the everyday operation of a nuclear plant represents a danger for human beings, aquatic life and the environment in general due to its
radioactive waste and the thermal pollution of seawater. Following explanations from the Russian constructing company Rosatom, waste products are supposed to be transported by air to Russia for treatment and brought back to Turkey to be buried for some decades. However, further to the technical environmental and safety issues, risks are significantly higher due to the political instability in the region. To be more accurate, the term ‘peaceful use’ of nuclear power is practically meaningless.

The impact of a failure in the safety systems at such a plant or an earthquake is a high risk with inevitably catastrophic consequences for the region. Even the everyday operation of a nuclear plant represents a danger for human beings, aquatic life and the environment in general due to its
radioactive waste and the thermal pollution of seawater. Following explanations from the Russian constructing company Rosatom, waste products are supposed to be transported by air to Russia for treatment and brought back to Turkey to be buried for some decades. However, further to the technical environmental and safety issues, risks are significantly higher due to the political instability in the region. To be more accurate, the term ‘peaceful use’ of nuclear power is practically meaningless.

The impact of a failure in the safety systems at such a plant or an earthquake is a high risk with inevitably catastrophic consequences for the region. Even the everyday operation of a nuclear plant represents a danger for human beings, aquatic life and the environment in general due to its
radioactive waste and the thermal pollution of seawater. Following explanations from the Russian constructing company Rosatom, waste products are supposed to be transported by air to Russia for treatment and brought back to Turkey to be buried for some decades. However, further to the technical environmental and safety issues, risks are significantly higher due to the political instability in the region. To be more accurate, the term ‘peaceful use’ of nuclear power is practically meaningless. Additionally, the construction of a nuclear power plant this period by a Russian construction company does not contribute to the stability of the region but increases Turkey’s dependence on Putin’s regime.

The impact of a failure in the safety systems at such a plant or an earthquake is a high risk with inevitably catastrophic consequences for the region. Even the everyday operation of a nuclear plant represents a danger for human beings, aquatic life and the environment in general due to its
radioactive waste and the thermal pollution of seawater. Following explanations from the Russian constructing company Rosatom, waste products are supposed to be transported by air to Russia for treatment and brought back to Turkey to be buried for some decades. However, further to the technical environmental and safety issues, risks are significantly higher due to the political instability in the region and beyond. To be more accurate, the term ‘peaceful use’ of nuclear power is practically meaningless.

Within the perspective of the adequate use of renewable sources’ energy potential, Turkey does not need to rely on nuclear power. The environmental impact assessment studies have not been fully documented – having not considered all aspects – and furthermore, have not been carried out using a legally sound procedure. In addition, the accidents and cracks in the foundation point to a big lack of plant safety and security. A Russian worker died on Feb. 24 2022 in an accident at the construction site. He was one of the employees of the subcontractor company. The man was seriously injured and died when a metal structure was being erected in the pre-assembly area next to the 1st unit of the Akkuyu NPP construction site. On May 18, 2022 hundreds of workers of construction firms downed tools over unpaid wages.

The whole issue now needs to be considered in the light of recent developments in the area, especially in Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion of the country. The consequences of this endless war, including seizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power – i.e. Europe’s largest nuclear power plant –and blackmail over the use of nuclear weapons, underline the nuclear threat we are all facing.

While there are enough significant environmental risks to call on the Turkish Government to stop the construction plans for the Akkuya nuclear power plant, there is another possibility to increase the pressure on stopping further construction. Rosatom, the Russian construction company responsible for building the Akkuyu, has not been part of any EU sanctions. Rosatom provides the equipment, materials and services needed to construct the plant. Including Rosatom on the EU sanction list could put pressure on Turkey and delay further construction of the Akkuyu plant.

The whole issue now needs to be considered in the light of recent developments in the area, especially in Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion of the country. The consequences of this endless war, including seizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power – i.e. Europe’s largest nuclear power plant –and blackmail over the use of nuclear weapons, underline the nuclear threat we are all facing. The nuclear power plant in Mersin Akkuyu is built and operated by Russia, which aims to increase its presence and influence and meet its geostrategic goals in the Eastern Mediterranean with this activity. Especially against this background and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which is against international law, the only consequence can be that Turkey puts the Akkuyu project on hold.

At least since the Gezi-movement in 2013 environmental mobilization has been seen as illegitimate, criminal activity. There, the protesters expressing disagreement with the destruction of nature and common spaces as well as with the oppressive regime, the increasingly authoritarian rule, and the restriction of rights and freedoms. Too often environmental activists are targeted and arrested simply for peacefully exercising their right of freedom of expression, association and assembly. (letzter Satz wäre Wiederholung)

The whole issue now needs to be considered in the light of recent developments in the area, especially in Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion of the country. The consequences of this endless war, including seizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power – i.e. Europe’s largest nuclear power plant –and blackmail over the use of nuclear weapons, underline the nuclear threat we are all facing.
The European Green Party call for the eventual closing of all existing nuclear plants around the world, therefore strongly oppose the opening of any new such plant. This is even more the case for an earthquake-prone region like the Eastern Mediterranean, therefore the European Greens expect all countries of the region to commit to not building any nuclear plants.

The European Green Party, in line with the relevant resolution of the European Parliament of April 2016, calls on the Turkish Government to stop the construction plans for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The European Green Partyurges the EU Commission to add Rosatom to the EU sanction list and call on the Turkish government to stop further collaboration with Rosatom.