The government of Turkey should support the nuclear regulator NDK and national nuclear technical support organisation NÜTED in an effort to ensure that they are fully prepared to complete all remaining inspection, licensing and regulatory procedures for the commissioning of the Akkuyu nuclear power station, the first commercial nuclear facility in the country, the International Energy Agency said.

In a report on Turkey’s energy policies, the Paris-based agency also urged the government to ensure continued domestic nuclear capacity building and technology transfer, including by exploring additional partnerships to advance further nuclear new-build projects.Turkey should ask for reviews of its regulatory system and activities by external authorities such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association. This would confirm and improve the adequacy and effectiveness of the NDK regulatory oversight model.