Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said Turkey does not lack alternative plans if it fails to reach an agreement with the South Koreans on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the northern Anatolian province of Sinop.
| He said he would be accompanying Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is heading to the South Korean capital of Seoul on Wednesday to attend the G-20 meetings, and will jointly conduct final negotiations with South Korean officials. If the necessary conditions for Turkey are not met properly, there will be no positive result from the deliberations, and the Turkish side will likely end the process, he asserted.
Speaking in Ankara on Tuesday at a conference titled “Turkey’s Energy Vision,” organized by the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), Yıldız said he is still hopeful of reaching a deal in compliance with essential principles the government has set in accordance with Turkey’s best interests.
He said Turkey has some red lines on the issue and won’t let these lines be breached. “We definitely have plans B and C. We would be very glad if we can reach an agreement with the South Koreans,” the minister noted, reiterating his hope that the two sides would eventually shake hands. No matter what happens, Turkey will not lose its determination to construct nuclear power plants, Yıldız said.
The minister had previously disclosed that talks have stalemated with South Korea’ state owned Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) due to conflicts over prices, state purchase guarantees and the share of state ownership in the nuclear plant. KEPCO wants the Turkish state to retain a larger share in the plant, whereas Turkey insists the Korean company shoulder the bigger responsibility by holding more than 51 percent of the shares. He reiterated the government’s perseverance in its nuclear energy policies, saying it will have at least two nuclear plants by 2023.
Yıldız also criticized demonstrations by environmentalist groups that are against nuclear power plants, saying they are against every step to generate energy. He added that if the country acted in accordance with what they ask for, it would sink into darkness. They are against wind energy on the grounds wind turbines are harmful for birds, and they object to hydropower, blaming dams for harming the environment, Yıldız noted and repeated that his major priority is to provide energy to turn the wheels of the country’s industry and ensure sustainable growth in the economy, resulting in prosperity for citizens. |
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10 November 2010, Wednesday | |
| ALİ ASLAN KILIÇ ANKARA |
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