‘Spent fuel from Turkey’s future plants becoming hot commodity’

Çakıroğlu further maintained that due to an increase in energy prices, the countries of the world have come to see nuclear energy as a viable alternative. "They need to do this because they have to decrease electric energy prices from 10-12 cents to four cents in order to maintain their economies. With respect to its zero effect on greenhouse gases and as a cheaper alternative in electric energy production, nuclear energy can be said to have become a favorite form of energy nowadays. Even if we have the money, we cannot establish nuclear power stations in a short period of time. Placing an order requires two years. So we cannot do it in a shorter period. There are many countries waiting in line for one; therefore, we must place our order now," he said.

Çakıroğlu stressed that companies aspiring to invest in nuclear energy in Turkey are required to obtain a security clearance from TAEK. "They will also need to obtain other licenses at the construction and operation phases. After the power station is commissioned, we will have an office at the station. We will be a part of the operation. This is how it is done worldwide. Nuclear energy requires zero tolerance for error. In other words, we will inspect the nuclear power stations at all times," he said.

Çakıroğlu asserted that the price of electric energy generated at a nuclear power station is one or one and a half cents per kWh. "This is the case when you do not provide the fuel from your own resources. According to our calculations, Turkey has sufficient uranium resources for the stations to be established. Using our own uranium resources, we may be able to decrease the cost down to 0.9 or one cent per kWh. To this end, we have concentrated on uranium exploration efforts," he said.

Çakıroğlu added that even before Turkey establishes nuclear power stations, some countries have applied to collect their spent fuel. "The US has established a Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) program under which spent fuel is collected on a voluntary basis. The Russian ambassador has visited me several times, requesting we give spent fuel to them and not to the US. He seeks to conclude an agreement at this stage. Japan has banned the export of spent fuel. This is because this fuel is very valuable. Everybody wants to own this fuel. Companies that will establish nuclear power stations stipulate that spent fuel should be given to them," he said.

Çakıroğlu, noting that the US and Canadian governments are being criticized for collecting this waste, said: "But they extract plutonium from this waste. As you know, plutonium is used for producing atomic weapons. For this reason, as TAEK, we have no plans for constructing waste storage locations. This is because we do not foresee a nuclear fuel waste risk or threat for the upcoming 200 years of our country. We are considerably confident in this respect."

Çakıroğlu explained that a nuclear power station does not produce fuel waste immediately after commencing operation because it takes two years for the first waste to develop. "This waste cannot be readily taken out of the power station as it continues to burn. It is first taken to pools inside the reactor. It has to be stored in these pools for a period of 10 or 15 years as its activity may continue. These pools are large enough to store the spent fuel of a reactor for 50 years. For this reason, claims that this waste is buried or stored in some location are purely false. According to our estimates, a nuclear power station can be commissioned in five years. This station's first fuel waste will come up in 2015 and will be ready to be taken out of the pools in 2030. Furthermore, we don't have to take them out of the pools. The US has been keeping its waste for 50 years," he said.

Çakıroğlu also noted that Russia has 460 nuclear submarines. "A nuclear submarine corresponds to two nuclear power stations. The US, too, has as many nuclear submarines. In sum, about 1,000 nuclear submarines are navigating the world's seas," he said.