Russian nuclear giant to sue Siemens
Russian state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to sue Germany’s Siemens for failing to deliver equipment intended for the Akkuyu power plant in Türkiye, according to CEO Aleksey Likhachev.
The equipment has been sourced from alternative suppliers to keep construction on track, Likhachev said in an interview with the Russia 24 TV channel on Saturday.
“Obviously, there will be lawsuits. Prepaid equipment was not delivered. It brought us additional costs, both for the specific purchase of equipment and for adjusting the installation time of this equipment. These claims will be filed,” Likhachev stated.
The Akkuyu NPP, located in Türkiye’s southern Mersin province, is set to become the country’s first nuclear power plant. The project is based on a 2010 agreement between Russia and Türkiye. Its first reactor was initially slated for commissioning in 2023. However, delays have pushed the timeline to next year, according to Likhachev.
Rosatom has not yet announced a target date for the first reactor to come online. All four reactors, each capable of producing 1,200 megawatts, are expected to be operational by 2028. Once fully up and running, the $20 billion facility is projected to cover 10% of Türkiye’s electricity needs, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar has stated.
In July, Likhachev acknowledged that Western sanctions have posed challenges, particularly concerning financial transactions and equipment procurement. Türkiye’s energy minister addressed the situation in September, indicating that Siemens’ non-delivery has caused delays.
He said the decision likely stems from Western restrictions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict. “If Siemens aims to impose sanctions on Russia, then Türkiye is also seriously affected by this,” Bayraktar said. Ankara has already filed a complaint about the matter “at the highest level,” he adding, insisting the German company should “pay a price” for its behavior.
Türkiye, which opposes European and US sanctions on Russia imposed by Western countries over the Ukraine conflict, maintains close ties with both Moscow and Kiev.
Bayraktar mentioned that Rosatom has secured alternative equipment from Chinese manufacturers to mitigate the impact on the project’s schedule.
A Siemens spokesperson confirmed in September that some parts were not delivered to Türkiye due to German export regulations.
Despite these challenges, Likhachev emphasized that construction is proceeding as planned. He noted that similar projects in Bangladesh and Egypt are progressing on schedule.
