Nuclear Japan: Mitsubishi-AREVA JV Won Turkish Contract to Build 4-Reactor Nuclear Plant in Sinop on Black Sea

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in Turkey. On October 29, 2013, according to Jiji Tsushin (10/30/2013), he and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the effective start of the nuclear project to build a 4-reactor nuclear power plant in the city of Sinop in northern Turkey on the Black Sea.

Atmea, a joint venture between Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and France's AREVA, will be the main contractor who will supply the generation III pressurized water reactors.

Prime Minister Abe said, according to Jiji (10/30/2013):

「東京電力福島第１原発事故の教訓を世界と共有することで原子力安全の向上を図っていくことはわが国の責務だ」

"It is our nation's responsibility to strive for enhancing nuclear safety by sharing with the world the lessons from the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident."

Note the word "strive". Japan will make effort, but if the effort fails, well that's too bad.

To that, Prime Minister Erdoğan said:

日本の高い技術力を評価し、「原発が必要と信じている以上、これを進めたい」と語った

He praised the highly developed technology of Japan, and said "Because we believe we need a nuclear power plant, we will proceed."

What lessons, you may ask? I am at a loss where to begin, but what I consider the lessons is probably not what Mr. Abe has in mind.

Here's from Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News (10/30/2013; emphasis is mine):

Turkey and Japan sign formal agreement to build second nuclear plant in Sinop

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe signed on Oct. 29 the official agreement for building Turkey's second nuclear plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop.

The two countries signed a $22 billion deal in May for the construction of a plant with a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts (mW), by a Japanese-French alliance of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and French firm Areva.

Abe came to Istanbul to attend the official opening ceremony of the Marmaray tunnel, which has also been built by a Japanese firm.

Erdoğan told reporters during a joint press conference after the Marmaray's opening ceremony that the nuclear plant would be built with the most developed technology.

"We know that it is impossible to say something like 'accidents will never happen.' Even if it is one in a million, such a danger, such an accident, might occur, and it is impossible to ignore this," Erdoğan said, commenting on the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

"There is no investment without risks, in any field. But every firm, every company should take 100 percent security measures. The ideal thing is without a doubt to minimize the margin of error," he added.

"Moreover, I believe that Japan will put forward the most developed technology in the works that we will undertake together at the Sinop nuclear plant. This is necessary for both Japan and Turkey," the prime minister said.

The first unit of the nuclear plant is set to be active by 2023, while the last unit will come online by 2028.

Turkey's first nuclear plant is being constructed in Akkuyu in the southern province of Mersin by the Russian state atomic energy corporation. The plant will be made with four reactors and will have a total installed power of 4,800 mW.

What Japan's most developed technology, you may further ask? I am at a loss here, too. Maybe he's referring to the ingenuous system of nuclear power plant building and maintenance subcontracting pyramid, where every contractor gets to profit by skimming the workers' pay, and where none will be held accountable in case of a nuclear accident, as they can each claim plausible deniability.

No investment without risks, says the Turkish prime minister. Maybe he gets lucky. It may indeed be several decades before there is a major nuclear accident.

Russians (Rosatom) are already building Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, also with four reactors, in southern Turkey facing the Mediterranean Sea.

City of Sinop looks like a beautiful place, with Cape Sinop jutting into the Black Sea. From the looks of Cape Sinop, I suspect the nuclear power plant will be built right at the tip of Cape Sinop... (Does anyone know the exact location?)

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Police Clashes with Protesters in Turkey, US State Deparment Says "These freedoms are crucial to any healthy democracy"

According to BBC people in Turkey got incensed over a planned shopping center over a small park in central Istanbul.

Aside from the governor of Tokyo and his supporters who believes Turkey is too dangerous to hold an Olympic in 7 years, I wonder who (think they) benefit.

From BBC (5/31/2013):

Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters

At least 12 people have been injured after Turkish police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters occupying a park in central Istanbul.

Demonstrators had held a four-day sit-in at Gezi Park, angry at plans to redevelop that part of Taksim Square.

An Istanbul court later ordered the temporary suspension of the project to uproot trees in the park.

But there is wider anger against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the unrest has spread to Ankara.

Protests have also been reported in other cities, including Bodrum, Konya and Izmir.

The US later expressed its concern over the reported number of injuries in Istanbul.

"We believe that Turkey's long-term stability, security and prosperity is best guaranteed by upholding the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association, which is what it seems these individuals were doing,'' state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

"These freedoms are crucial to any healthy democracy."

...

What started out as an environmental protest in Istanbul became anti-government in tone, correspondents say.

The controversial redevelopment project is aimed at easing congestion around Taksim Square but also involves building a shopping centre over Gezi Park.

Opponents of Mr Erdogan's plans say the park is one of the few green areas left in central Istanbul.

One banner at Friday's protest included a cartoon of Mr Erdogan dressed as an Ottoman sultan with the slogan: "The people will not bow down to you."

"We do not have a government, we have Tayyip Erdogan," political scientist and protester Koray Caliskan told the Reuters news agency.

"They are not listening to us," he added. "This is the beginning of a summer of discontent."

(Full article at the link)

The US should practice at home what they preach to Turkey.

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Armenian Public Radio: Metsamor Nuke Plant Can Withstand M10 Earthquake

The Turkey earthquake, which registered M3 at the plant in Armenia, is nothing, according to the Public Radio of Armenia. However, There's a rumor that radioactive materials have leaked in the surrounding area. (Actually, it is reported by the Iranian state Japanese radio broadcast on October 25, quoting the Turkish newspaper Zaman which supposedly quotes the Turkish government source.)

Armenia's Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is often called "the most dangerous nuke plant in the world", as it is one of the few nuke plants in the world without primary containment structures, and is in the earthquake-prone region without ready access to water as reactor coolant in case of plant damage by the earthquake.

From Public Radio of Armenia (10/24/2011):

The earthquake in Turkey has not caused and could not have caused any harm to the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), since it is designed to resist an earthquake measuring 9-10 on the Richter scale, the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 160 km away from the ANPP, the quake measured 3-5 on the territory of Armenia.

It did not cause any damage to any settlement or building on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry said.

ANPP Director General Gagik Markosyan says the quake measured 2-3 at the plant, adding that the ANPP had been stopped for planned reconstruction works from September 11.

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