SINOP Today

Anti-nuclear demonstration in Sinop- Hurriyet 29th April 2006 Saturday

Thousands of anti-nuclear activists and environmentalists alike gathered in Sinop on Saturday for a peaceful demonstration against the planned nuclear power plant that the government say will be built on the Ince peninsula.

Up to 10,000 people marched through the Black Sea fishing village of Sinop in protest of the government's plans to build the plant not far from the town. The rally marched through the streets and congregated in the town square shouting anti-nuclear slogans and sang environmentalists songs. Members of the CHP were present, although no representative of the ruling Justice and development Party (AKP) were present.

Residents joined Turks, who had traveled from all over Turkey, and marched through the streets in protest of the government's nuclear plans. Buses traveled from Istanbul and Ankara carrying many NGOs such as "The Greens" and "Anti-Nuclear Platform". The trip was organised by the Chamber of Electric Engineers (EMO). The event was a peaceful event with a low police presence on the ground.

Following a meeting on April 14, of Turkey's top energy officials and representatives of 14 firms, statements circulated in the Turkish media that the government had confirmed Sinop as the site of where the new nuclear plant is to be built. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by the Turkish media on April 14 as saying the Black Sea coastal town of Sinop was "the one".

It is the second of such plans for Turkey. Nuclear ambitions were first initiated in the 1960s. A previous attempt to build a power plant at Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast also had to be abandoned after strong protests from locals and environmentalists.

A second rally is planned for June, but the location is not yet known.

Turkish nuclear plants- Reuters

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's energy minister will meet private sector firms on Thursday for talks on construction of the country's first nuclear power plants, an energy official said yesterday.

Turkey plans to build three power plants with a total of 5,000 megawatts capacity. Construction of the plants, which the government says will avoid a future power shortage, is expected to start in January 2007.

"The minister will tell firms to decide if they want to take part in the project and that a decision on which firms to pick will be made soon," the energy official, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

Energy officials have said that Turkey does not plan to tender for the nuclear plants, and will instead assign a consortium for construction.

Heavyweights of Turkey's business community, including the heads of leading Turkish conglomerates, Koc, Sabanci, Dogus Holding, Enka, Gama, Zorlu Holding, Tekfen, Alarko, Calık and Akkkk Groups are expected to attend the meeting with Energy Minister Dr.M.Hilmi Guler, the official said.

Oil and natural gas imports, along with coal and hydroelectric power, account for most of Turkey's current energy needs.

Previous efforts to build a nuclear power plant, stretching back 30 years, have failed due to cost and opposition from environmental groups.

Under energy ministry projections, Turkey aims to put its nuclear power plants into service in 2012 in the Black Sea province of Sinop.

It has begun talks with leading nuclear power producers, including the United States, Britain, China and Japan, on technology transfer and costs.