Türkiye reaffirms strong commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, said in a video message sent to the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday.
Bayraktar emphasized that nuclear energy plays a central role in Türkiye's long-term energy strategy, which is built on the pillars of sustainable development, energy security, and achieving net zero emissions by 2053.
"We can use the full potential of nuclear energy for climate change, energy security and sustainable development," he said.
The Minister stated that Türkiye's electricity demand is expected to triple over the next 30 years, and to meet this increasing need, the country is expanding its power generation capacity across all sectors, including nuclear and renewables.
Bayraktar outlined Türkiye's nuclear energy roadmap, highlighting the goal to commission 7 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2035, and expand capacity to 20 GW by 2050 through the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs).
In line with the decision adopted at COP29, Bayraktar reaffirmed Türkiye's support for the global goal of tripling nuclear capacity by mid-century, and emphasized the country's active cooperation with the IAEA in sharing expertise and building technical capacity.
Bayraktar also underlined Türkiye's commitment to strengthening nuclear science for peaceful purposes.
He announced plans to increase the use of the Cekmece research reactor in Istanbul and reiterated the importance of nuclear technology in health, agriculture, food security, water management, and environmental protection.
Highlighting Türkiye's participation in the IAEA's "Atoms4Food" initiative, Bayraktar said that the country's national research body, TENMAK, has been recognized as one of the agency's official collaborating centers.
Bayraktar concluded his remarks by reaffirming Türkiye's ongoing commitment to close cooperation with the IAEA and all member states to ensure the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide.
"Together, through joint responsibility and mutual support, we can use the full potential of nuclear energy to tackle climate change and support global development," he said.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
