The under-construction Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project in Mersin's Gulnar district suffered no damage from the major earthquake that jolted southern Turkey on Monday morning.
The 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117 GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district of Turkey's southern province of Kahramanmaras, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles).
According to Anastasia Zoteeva, general director of the project company Akkuyu Nuclear, the earthquake was felt at a magnitude of approximately 3 in the region where the Akkuyu NPP site is located.
'Our experts did not detect any damage to the buildings, equipment and cranes in our field. Construction and assembly work continues in the field,' Zoteeva said.
According to Zoteeva, the Mobilization Unit, Civil Defense and Emergency Protection Units, Akkuyu Nuclear's emergency units, are cooperating with AFAD and preparing to send equipment and personnel to the region.
The Akkuyu NPP on Turkey's Mediterranean coast will be the country's first nuclear-powered power plant. The plant, which is expected to have an installed capacity of 4,800 megawatts and four reactors, will begin producing electricity in 2023.
By Ebru Sengul Cevrioglu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr