Protests as Turkey builds first nuclear power plant

The Akkuyu plant has become a bete noire for environmentalists who have raised alarm about safety issues and the building of the power station in an area rich in wildlife (AFP Photo/Veli Gurgah) [link]

By Burak Akinci with Stuart Williams in Istanbul:

Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Tuesday launched construction of its first nuclear power plant which Ankara hopes will open a new era of greater energy self-sufficiency, but the ceremony was marred by angry protests against the controversial $20 billion project.

After the launch ceremony, dozens of environmental protesters converged on the iron gates of the site in Akkuyu in Mersin province on the shores of the Mediterranean.

They managed to lock in the official delegations, security forces and journalists inside the site and were only dispersed when a water cannon truck was used against them, video footage showed.

The power station -- which will have four power units with a capacity of 1200 MW each -- is being built like Iran's first nuclear power plant by Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom...Continue reading...