Türkiye has taken a significant step towards advancing its nuclear energy capabilities by signing a memorandum of understanding with Copenhagen Atomics, a Danish company specializing in nuclear technology. This partnership focuses on utilizing Türkiye’s thorium resources to develop next-generation nuclear technologies. The collaboration, formalized by the Türkiye Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK), will emphasize thorium technology’s potential, including domestic production of thorium compounds suitable for advanced reactors.
The cooperation aims to foster research, development, and project design for nuclear-grade thorium compounds specifically for use in molten salt reactors. This partnership intends to integrate Turkish technology companies, industrial firms, and researchers into the development process, thereby creating high-value nuclear technologies. Copenhagen Atomics is known for its innovative “Onion Core” concept, a fourth-generation modular molten salt reactor technology. As part of the agreement, the company will evaluate how this technology can be applied within Türkiye’s existing research infrastructure, workforce, and industrial framework.
Türkiye is keen to reduce its reliance on imported nuclear fuel by harnessing its thorium deposits. With ambitions to expand nuclear power alongside renewable energy, the country plans to establish both large-scale reactors and small modular reactors. The target is to achieve 15 gigawatts of conventional nuclear capacity and an additional 5 gigawatts from small modular reactors by the year 2050. Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, is underway and will feature four reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts.
Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar highlighted the significance of this collaboration, noting the abundance of thorium in Türkiye and the potential of Copenhagen Atomics’ technology to leverage this resource. He expressed optimism that this partnership could eventually lead to the development of commercially viable nuclear technology, enhancing Türkiye’s energy independence and technological prowess.