Concreting of internal containment dome completed at Akkuyu NPP Unit NO. 1

May 31, 2023, Büyükeceli, Mersin Province, Türkiye. – One of construction milestones at Akkuyu NPP Power Unit No.1, namely concreting of the dome of the internal containment (IC), which ensures the air-tightness of the reactor building, has been completed.

422 tons of rebars were installed and more than 3200 m3 of concrete were poured to ensure the maximum strength of the dome. The concrete has a high liquidity, which allows it to self-compact and fully fill the structure space under its own weight, while retaining maintaining high water-retaining capacity, liability, strength and homogeneity of its composition. Upon completion of concreting, the height of the internal containment dome reached elevation +61 700, while the wall thickness was 1200 mm.

“Completion of concreting of the internal containment of Unit 1 is one of the key events at the Akkuyu NPP construction site. I would like to thank all the builders for their maximum dedication and high level of professionalism. The team’s cohesive work allows to build all four power units simultaneously. At Unit 1, after the successful completion of the internal containment construction stage and the delivery of the first batch of nuclear fuel, we go to the finish line. External containment installation and other acceptance works are to be performed prior to the completion of the first power unit,” commented AKKUYU NUCLEAR JSC Chief Executive Officer Anastasia Zoteeva.

A special high-quality concrete mix is used for concreting at Akkuyu NPP. Its characteristics such as temperature, cone slump and density are constantly monitored. Each concrete batch undergoes a number of laboratory tests, including inspections at the factory and the Akkuyu NPP construction site. 

In the near future, at Unit No. 1, planned to install the ropes of the containment pre-stress system, which ensures the air-tightness of the reactor building and protects the power unit against any extreme external impacts, such as magnitude up-to-9 earthquake, tsunami, hurricanes, and their combinations.

For reference:

Akkuyu NPP is the first-ever nuclear power plant in the Republic of Turkey. The Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ WWER reactors of Russian design. The capacity of each NPP power unit will be 1200 MW. 

Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate model.

According to the terms and conditions of the Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, the NPP’s first power unit is supposed to be commissioned within 7 years after obtaining all construction authorizations. Given that the construction license for the Unit No. 1 was obtained in 2018, the deadline is 2025. At the same time, the project stakeholders are making their best efforts to ensure the readiness for start-up and adjustment works on the Unit No. 1 in 2023, a jubilee year for the Republic of Turkey.