World Nuclear Association
Nuclear Power in Turkey
(Updated October 2016)
Uranium and fuel cycle
Turkey has modest uranium resources. The Temrezli deposit in the central Anatolian region 220 km east of Ankara was discovered by the Department of Energy, Raw Material and Exploration (MTA) in the early 1980s. MTA continued to explore the region for the next 10 years. Regional towns of Yozgat and Sorgun are nearby.
US-based Uranium Resources Inc. (URI) is planning to develop the Temrezli ISL mine. Australian-based Anatolia Energy Ltd* had a 100% interest in 18 exploration licences which included the Temrezli project. Project activities were undertaken by A Dur Madencilik Ltd (Adur), a wholly-owned subsidiary. In June 2015 URI took over Anatolia Energy Ltd.**
* Anatolia Uranium Pty Ltd (AUL) had 65% ownership of the Temrezli project, with parent company Anatolia Energy directly holding 35%. AUL was an incorporated JV but ownership was rationalised in 2012-13. In February 2014 Azarga Resources, parent company of Powertech Uranium, increased its holding to a 15% share in Anatolia Energy.
** In June 2015 Anatolia announced a merger with Colorado-based URI, with uranium projects in Texas. It is technically a takeover, so that the Turkish projects will be under URI, which will contribute experienced staff and a treatment plant.
A preliminary economic assessment of the Temrezli ISL uranium project was published in June 2013 and updated in May 2014, based on NI 43-101 figures. It found that costs would compare favourably with other (US) ISL projects. Measured resources at Temrezli are 2351 tU, indicated resources are 2004 tU, and inferred resources 732 tU, at 0.117%U, 0.092%U, and 0.075%U respectively at the end of 2013. The Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources has awarded a production licence for the project, and a pre-feasibility study was completed in February 2015. With initial capital cost of $41 million, 3800 tU could be recovered over 12 years at $16.89/lb U3O8, giving project payback in less than one year. Subject to finance, a development decision is expected, with prospective production start late in 2016.
URI commenced a pre-feasibility optimization study of the Temrezli ISL project in 2015, and expects to complete this late in 2016. It is also pushing forward on permitting-related issues, and preparing to move the Rosita treatment plant from Texas to Temrezli. The company expects project approvals from the government by mid-2017, so that an investment decision can be made and construction can then begin.
URI’s Sefaatli uranium project has significant uranium mineralisation discovered in the 1980s, and an intensive drilling program on the Delier prospect is defining resources. Tulu Tepe is also prospective in that project area, 5 km southwest of Delier. A third prospect is Akcami, 2 km west of Tulu Tepe. The three cover 15 sq km. Sefaatli may be operated as a satellite of Temrezli (35 km away). The company also has a tenement holding in the West Sorgun area.
The Rosatom agreement for Akkuyu provides for setting up a fuel fabrication plant in Turkey.
Wastes
Though originally TAEK required reactor vendors to take back used fuel, the question of whether used fuel for Akkuyu will remain in Turkey or be repatriated to Russia in line with normal practice for Russian plants in non-weapons states had not been settled (by May 2014).
http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/turkey.aspx
I hope this information gives peace to your heart and mine regarding the fuel for nuclear power plants. And like said before i saw debates in Russian parliment about the nuclear deal, also World Nuclear Association says what will happen to waste is unknown. If have solid sources please share with us and end my confusing. Because i couldnt find one that i can trust.
Last edited:
