Comparison of Nuclear Power Plant Acquisition Processes in Turkey, Japan and South Korea

Abstract

In order to ensure continuity in energy and to minimize foreign dependency, countries should be able to manage multiple energy sources as established systems. Since nuclear energy is a low-carbon energy source, it is considered as an energy type that has the potential to play a key role in combating the climate change problem of our age. Nuclear power plants are preferred by countries with their unique features such as being able to release a high amount of energy compared to the fuel they use, producing energy continuously without being affected by weather events, and predictability in electricity production costs. Turkey, Japan and South Korea have started attempts at approximately the same time to acquire nuclear power plant technology. Today, Japan and South Korea are two countries that carry out national and international projects in various fields with many nuclear power plants established and their own designs under development. For Turkey, the process has not progressed in the same way and the construction of the first power plant has been delayed until today. In this study, the operational processes of these three countries, whose processes of obtaining nuclear power plant technology have started close to each other, are discussed in a chronological order and the steps taken over time are compared. The current situation for Turkey has been evaluated and suggestions for the future have been given.