Investigation launched into Russian worker's death in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant construction

Duvar English

A Russian worker on Feb. 24 died in an accident at the construction site of the Russian-financed Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in southern Turkey.

Akkuyu Nuclear Inc., the investor and owner of the construction works, said that a legal investigation was launched into the incident. 

“On Thursday at around 17.00, a worker of Russian nationality, who was one of the employees of the subcontractor company, was seriously injured and died when a metal structure was being erected in the pre-assembly area next to the 1st unit of the Akkuyu NPP construction site,” the company announced.

It said that a special commission was formed to determine the cause of the accident and that necessary action will be taken with regards to those responsible. It also said that it will provide support to the dead worker’s family. 

Akkuyu Power Plant has been the subject of controversy since its construction began. The plant was financed by the Russian state atomic energy body, Rosatom. The deal for the plant was inked between Turkey and Russia in 2010 and construction officially began in 2015, though major construction wasn’t underway until 2018.

The Turkish government claims that the plant will be a “local, domestic” project, but last year, employees in the plant reported that only Russian engineers were allowed in the core of the plant. The plant is slated to be completed by 2023.