Akkuyu’s Golden Opportunity: Unleashing India’s Nuclear Might in Türkiye’s Booming Market
India’s nuclear energy sector has made significant progress over the years, developing a strong domestic supply chain and expanding its capabilities in nuclear technology. A key factor behind this growth has been its long-standing partnership with Russia’s Rosatom, which has played an instrumental role in the development of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP). This collaboration has not only enhanced India’s energy security but has also contributed to the growth of a robust ecosystem of Indian suppliers specializing in Russian-designed VVER reactor technology.
As nuclear energy continues to gain global traction, new avenues are emerging for Indian suppliers with expertise in Russian nuclear technology. One of the most promising international markets in this regard is Türkiye, where the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is under construction. This landmark project, Türkiye’s first nuclear power facility, is being developed by Rosatom under a build-own-operate (BOO) model. Türkiye has ambitious plans to expand its nuclear energy infrastructure beyond Akkuyu, and Indian suppliers, who have developed extensive experience working on VVER-based nuclear projects in India, are well-positioned to contribute their technical expertise, manufacturing capabilities, and cost-competitive solutions to Türkiye’s nuclear sector.
By recognizing the strategic alignment between India’s VVER experience and Türkiye’s nuclear ambitions, Indian suppliers can seize a significant opportunity to integrate into Türkiye’s growing nuclear industry. The following sections explore how India’s extensive experience with VVER-1000 reactors at Kudankulam can be leveraged to secure a foothold in Türkiye’s Russian-backed nuclear power projects.
India’s Nuclear Partnership with Russia: A Strong Foundation for Global Expansion
India’s engagement with nuclear technology has been shaped significantly by its decades-long collaboration with Russia. Among all foreign partners, Russia has remained India’s most reliable supplier of nuclear reactors, fuel, and technology. This partnership has played a crucial role in expanding India’s nuclear energy capacity while also helping Indian suppliers integrate into Russia’s VVER supply chain.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is the most prominent outcome of this collaboration. It is India’s largest nuclear power plant, featuring VVER-1000 reactors, and is being developed in multiple phases. The construction of Kudankulam has allowed Indian engineering and manufacturing firms to develop the expertise needed to build, install, and maintain Russian-designed reactors. Today, several Indian companies have gained hands-on experience in:
Manufacturing key reactor components, such as pressure vessels, steam generators, and control mechanisms.
Providing instrumentation, electrical systems, and automation for nuclear plants.
Delivering civil engineering, piping, and construction services for nuclear power facilities.
Supplying operations and maintenance (O&M) services for VVER-based power plants.
Through their work on Kudankulam, Indian firms have built strong relationships with Rosatom and its subsidiary companies. These connections can now be leveraged to expand into other countries where Rosatom is leading nuclear energy projects, such as Türkiye. Since Türkiye’s Akkuyu NPP is being developed by Rosatom using VVER-1200 reactors, Indian suppliers—who are already familiar with VVER-based technology—are in an excellent position to extend their services to Türkiye’s nuclear sector.
Türkiye’s Nuclear Goals: A Market Aligned with India’s Strengths
Türkiye has traditionally depended on imported fossil fuels to meet its energy demands. However, in an effort to enhance energy security, reduce reliance on oil and gas imports, and diversify its energy mix, the country has launched an extensive nuclear energy program. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) marks the first step in this initiative and is expected to be fully operational by 2028.
The Akkuyu NPP, located in Mersin, Türkiye, is being constructed with the advanced VVER-1200 reactor design, an upgraded version of the VVER-1000 reactors used at India's Kudankulam plant. With a total installed capacity of 4,800 MW, consisting of four units of 1,200 MW each, the plant is being developed by Rosatom. Construction began in 2018, with the first unit expected to be commissioned by 2025. Given India’s experience in handling VVER-based reactor components and systems, Indian companies possess the expertise to contribute to Türkiye’s nuclear sector by offering their technological and engineering solutions.
Beyond Akkuyu, Türkiye is advancing plans to expand its nuclear capacity further. The Sinop Nuclear Power Plant, Türkiye’s second major nuclear project, is planned for development in Sinop Province along the Black Sea coast. Like Akkuyu, the Sinop NPP is expected to have an installed capacity of 4,800 MW, comprising four 1,200 MW units. Russia is currently leading the bidding process for this project, with Türkiye considering Rosatom the most suitable partner due to the expertise gained through the development of Akkuyu.
Türkiye’s nuclear ambitions align with the goals outlined in its National Energy Plan (2020–2035), which emphasizes nuclear energy as a cornerstone of the country’s future energy strategy. The plan aims to increase Türkiye’s total electricity generation capacity to 189.7 GW by 2035, with nuclear power playing a critical role in achieving this target. By 2035, the country plans to reach a nuclear capacity of 7.2 GW, with a long-term objective of expanding to 20 GW by 2050. As part of this 20 GW goal, Türkiye is targeting 5 GW from Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), reflecting the country's commitment to advanced nuclear technologies for greater flexibility and efficiency.
As Türkiye moves forward with its nuclear development, Indian suppliers and technology firms that establish an early presence in the market could position themselves for long-term business opportunities in the country’s growing nuclear sector.
Why Indian Suppliers Should Actively Pursue Opportunities in Türkiye’s Nuclear Market
Extensive Experience in VVER Reactor Technology: Indian suppliers have accumulated significant expertise in VVER-based nuclear infrastructure through their long-standing collaboration with Rosatom on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. Leading Indian companies, such as Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL), and Godrej & Boyce, have played a crucial role in manufacturing key reactor components, including pressure vessels, steam generators, and heat exchangers. Additionally, they have developed capabilities in providing advanced instrumentation, automation, and control systems, as well as civil construction, heavy engineering, and piping solutions for nuclear power plants. Given this extensive experience, Indian firms are well-positioned to contribute to Türkiye’s nuclear energy sector, particularly in supporting the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and future nuclear projects in the country.
Competitive Cost Advantage: Indian manufacturers offer a distinct cost advantage in the global nuclear supply chain by producing high-quality nuclear components at significantly lower costs than their Western counterparts. As Türkiye is focused on cost-efficient solutions for its nuclear energy expansion, Indian suppliers present an attractive alternative, ensuring affordability without compromising on quality or safety. This cost-competitiveness, combined with India’s established track record in working with Rosatom, makes Indian firms strong contenders for supplying critical components and services to Türkiye’s nuclear power projects.
Strengthened Relationship with Rosatom: Rosatom, which is overseeing the development, funding, and operation of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant under a build-own-operate (BOO) model, has already established close working ties with Indian suppliers through the Kudankulam project. Given this prior collaboration, Indian companies are already well-acquainted with Rosatom’s procurement processes, regulatory requirements, and compliance standards. This familiarity provides Indian suppliers with a strategic advantage, as they can seamlessly integrate into Rosatom-led projects in Türkiye, ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of nuclear components and engineering solutions.
Gaps in Türkiye’s Nuclear Supply Chain Create a Strategic Opportunity: Western sanctions on Russia have led to significant disruptions in Türkiye’s nuclear supply chain, as many European suppliers have reduced or withdrawn their participation in the Akkuyu project. This situation presents a strategic window of opportunity for Indian firms to step in and fill the gaps in the supply of essential nuclear components and services. With India’s demonstrated capability in producing high-quality VVER reactor components, Indian suppliers can play a crucial role in ensuring the timely and successful completion of Türkiye’s nuclear projects.
Türkiye’s Long-Term Nuclear Energy Vision: Türkiye’s nuclear energy program is still in its early stages, with plans to significantly expand its nuclear capacity in the coming decades. Beyond Akkuyu, the country is planning additional nuclear power plants, including the Sinop Nuclear Power Plant, and has set ambitious targets to achieve a nuclear capacity of 7.2 GW by 2035 and 20 GW by 2050. Türkiye’s long-term strategy also includes the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as part of its future energy mix. Indian suppliers that establish an early presence in Türkiye’s nuclear sector now will have the opportunity to secure long-term contracts, ensuring a sustained role in multiple upcoming nuclear projects in the country.
Türkiye as a Strategic Gateway for Regional Expansion: Türkiye’s geographical location positions it as a critical gateway to Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, offering Indian engineering and manufacturing firms a strategic entry point into these markets. By strengthening cooperation in Türkiye’s nuclear projects, Indian suppliers can establish a strong industrial presence in the country and leverage it as a base for expanding exports to neighboring regions. This not only enhances India’s role in the global nuclear supply chain but also creates new opportunities for long-term partnerships and market diversification beyond Türkiye.
Key Indian Suppliers Ready to Expand into Türkiye
Several Indian companies that have been instrumental in supporting the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant’s VVER-1000 reactors are well-positioned to extend their expertise to Türkiye’s VVER-1200 reactors. Leading firms such as Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), Godrej & Boyce, Walchandnagar Industries, Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL), Nidec Industrial Automation Pvt. Ltd., PGM Electro Pvt. Ltd., Voltech O&M Services Pvt. Ltd., and Philips India have extensive experience in supplying critical components and services for Russian-designed reactors. Their proven capabilities make them strong contenders for securing supplier contracts for Türkiye’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and future nuclear projects in the country.
Therefore, Türkiye’s nuclear power sector presents a strategic and timely business opportunity for Indian companies with expertise in Russian-backed VVER reactor technology. Given the strong foundation built through Kudankulam, Indian firms are well-prepared to supply, support, and collaborate on Türkiye’s Akkuyu NPP and future nuclear projects. By proactively engaging with Rosatom, Turkish stakeholders, and local engineering firms, Indian suppliers can establish themselves as long-term partners in Türkiye’s nuclear expansion.
India’s goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 will further strengthen its domestic nuclear supply chain, enhancing the capabilities of Indian suppliers to compete globally. Additionally, the upcoming Türkiye Nuclear Business Platform (TNBP) 2025 and the India Nuclear Business Platform (INBP) 2025 will be crucial in facilitating industry collaboration, fostering new partnerships, and accelerating market entry. These platforms will serve as key networking opportunities, helping Indian firms leapfrog their presence in Türkiye and beyond. For India’s VVER suppliers, Türkiye is not just an opportunity—it is a natural next step in their international expansion.
