Tweet
U.S. envoy calls on Turkey for transparent nuclear regulator
January 28, 2012 - 10:32 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A more transparent and open regulatory environment
for the nuclear sector would be more encouraging for American
companies that wish to invest in this field, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Francis Ricciardone said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
`Your energy minister [Taner Yıldız] wants to encourage American firms
in the nuclear sector. We think that is great, too. The regulatory
environment in Turkey, however, discourages American companies from
coming because the nuclear sector is wide open around in the world,
but is still closed in Turkey,' Ricciardone said.
Turkey is planning to build three nuclear power plants in the next
decade, totaling 4500 MWe, in the provinces of Akkuyu, Mersin and in
Sinop. Turkey and Russia signed an agreement on construction of the
first plant, but talks with Japan for the second plant were suspended
after the earthquake in Japan last year.
However, U.S. companies do not seem interested in entering this field
in Turkey. This is because of poor tender conditions, according to
Michael Camunez, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of
Commerce, who called on Turkey to adopt an internationally approved
tender process in order to attract American companies, during a visit
to Ankara last month. `The regulations should be open and clear. There
needs to be a strong and independent regulatory institution with
long-term purchase contract,' Camunez told reporters.
`We have a conversation going on about opening the regulatory
environment here to encourage American and foreign investment in the
nuclear sector,' Ricciardone said. Citing the energy sector as an
important field in which Turkish and American companies could
cooperate, he said, `If you do not grow in generation capability,
transmission and distribution there will be a bottleneck. It will hold
you back. We are keenly interested in American companies and investors
participating.'
From: Baghdasarian
January 28, 2012 - 10:32 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A more transparent and open regulatory environment
for the nuclear sector would be more encouraging for American
companies that wish to invest in this field, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Francis Ricciardone said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
`Your energy minister [Taner Yıldız] wants to encourage American firms
in the nuclear sector. We think that is great, too. The regulatory
environment in Turkey, however, discourages American companies from
coming because the nuclear sector is wide open around in the world,
but is still closed in Turkey,' Ricciardone said.
Turkey is planning to build three nuclear power plants in the next
decade, totaling 4500 MWe, in the provinces of Akkuyu, Mersin and in
Sinop. Turkey and Russia signed an agreement on construction of the
first plant, but talks with Japan for the second plant were suspended
after the earthquake in Japan last year.
However, U.S. companies do not seem interested in entering this field
in Turkey. This is because of poor tender conditions, according to
Michael Camunez, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of
Commerce, who called on Turkey to adopt an internationally approved
tender process in order to attract American companies, during a visit
to Ankara last month. `The regulations should be open and clear. There
needs to be a strong and independent regulatory institution with
long-term purchase contract,' Camunez told reporters.
`We have a conversation going on about opening the regulatory
environment here to encourage American and foreign investment in the
nuclear sector,' Ricciardone said. Citing the energy sector as an
important field in which Turkish and American companies could
cooperate, he said, `If you do not grow in generation capability,
transmission and distribution there will be a bottleneck. It will hold
you back. We are keenly interested in American companies and investors
participating.'
From: Baghdasarian