The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy noted on the 23rd that they will strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear power, through high-level talks between Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
According to the Ministry, Deputy Minister Lee Ho-hyeon will visit Turkey and Saudi Arabia from the 24th to the 27th and hold consecutive meetings with senior government officials related to energy from both countries. They will also discuss cooperation plans across the energy sector, including power networks, hydrogen, and oil.
On the 24th, Deputy Minister Lee will meet with Vice Minister Zafér Demircan of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and Vice Minister Ahmet Berat Conkar to discuss energy-related agendas such as nuclear power and clean energy.
Turkey aims to build a 20GW nuclear power capacity by 2050 for stable energy supply. The Turkish Ministry of Energy has been carrying out the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (1,200 MW, 4 units) construction project since 2010. Additionally, they are seeking operators for new nuclear construction projects in the Sinop and Thrace regions. KEPCO submitted a preliminary project proposal to participate in the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant project in 2023 to construct 4 APR1400 units. The Ministry expressed expectations that "this high-level visit will revive government-level dialogue on nuclear power between the two countries for the first time in 13 years and boost future discussions."
On the 26th, Deputy Minister Lee will meet with Vice Minister Nasser Qattani of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy. During the meeting, they will discuss cooperation in large-scale nuclear plant construction, power network expansion, and the clean hydrogen sector. Saudi Arabia is pursuing diversification of energy sources and a transition to a sustainable growth system, indicating significant potential for cooperation with our country across various energy sectors.
Deputy Minister Lee said, "We will closely analyze the policies of each country for sustainable development and responding to climate change, and strive to strengthen cooperation with the European and Middle Eastern regions in the energy sector to create new opportunities for our corporations."