RUSYA-TÜRKİYE ENERJİ İLİŞKİLERİNDE AKKUYU’NUN ROLÜ: BAĞIMLILIK MI, KARŞILIKLI BAĞIMLILIK MI?
THE ROLE OF AKKUYU IN RUSSIA-TURKEY ENERGY RELATIONS: DOES IT A DEPENDENCY OR AN INTERDEPENDENCY?

Summary/Abstract: Excessive dependency on imported fossil fuels is a serious threat in the energy security of Turkey, and the situation is more critical in natural gas. Natural gas has the second highest share in the Turkish energy mix at a rate of 32.5%. Nearly 55% of the natural gas is imported from one single source country, and nearly 85% of the current purchase agreements consist of long-term agreements that are based on the “take or pay” principle. The Russian gas and the pipelines have critical importance in the natural gas supply of Turkey; and nuclear energy is being emphasized for the purpose of diversifying the resources. The share of nuclear energy in Turkish energy mix is 0%, and the agreement in this field being made with Russia brings another dependency relation. When the disadvantages of the “build-operate-own” model, which is selected for Akkuyu, are considered together with the fact that the country will become dependent on Russia in the field of nuclear fuel and wastes, Akkuyu has the risk of creating strategic dependency rather than being a strategic investment. The hypothesis of the study is the notion that Akkuyu will make Turkey become more vulnerable against Russia, and the nuclear initiative will be questioned in terms of Turkey’s natural gas dependency will be analyzed.

• Details
• Contents