Türkiye Nuclear Energy Outlook 2025–2050: Why Global Businesses Should Act Now
Türkiye’s nuclear energy sector is entering a decisive growth phase that will define its industrial and technological trajectory for the next quarter century. With its first reactors nearing operation and a roadmap to reach 20 GW of capacity by 2050, the country is not merely building power plants — it is laying the foundation for a full-scale nuclear economy. This transformation positions Türkiye as both a reliable nuclear operator and a rising regional hub for technology transfer, supply chain integration, and advanced energy services. For international companies, the next 25 years offer more than project participation; they present a rare opportunity to establish long-term footholds in one of the world’s fastest-growing nuclear markets, where stability, scale, and strategic partnerships will define success.
A Quarter Century of Nuclear Construction and Technology Deployment
Türkiye’s nuclear buildout opens with the 4.8 GW Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, a flagship project developed with Rosatom under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. With Unit 1 scheduled for grid connection in 2025 and the remaining units following in sequence, Akkuyu is not just an energy milestone — it is the first wave of multi-billion-dollar business opportunities.
Crucially, this is only the beginning. The government has already lined up the second 4.8 GW plant at Sinop and a 5.6 GW facility in Thrace, ensuring a pipeline of continuous large-scale nuclear projects well into the 2040s. While Rosatom retains a strong role, the entry of China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) with CAP1400 reactors at Thrace signals Türkiye’s openness to diversified partnerships and multiple technology vendors.
For global EPC contractors, heavy equipment manufacturers, civil engineering firms, and reactor technology providers, this creates not a one-off project but a 25-year market environment with recurring contracts across construction, systems integration, and infrastructure. Companies that establish a presence now will position themselves as long-term partners in one of the world’s most significant nuclear expansion programs.
SMRs: A Strategic Growth Vector Beyond 2035
Looking further ahead, Türkiye has committed to 5 GW of SMR capacity by 2050. This is where long-term growth prospects expand. SMRs offer flexible deployment for industrial clusters, desalination, and hydrogen production — areas where Türkiye has parallel national goals.
Global developers such as Rolls-Royce, Westinghouse, and other SMR pioneers will find in Türkiye not only a host country but also a regional platform to showcase and scale their technologies. The investment case is further strengthened by financing momentum: U.S. EXIM Bank has already expressed readiness to support SMR projects in Türkiye, dramatically lowering entry risks for American firms and setting a precedent for other international financiers to follow. For forward-looking nuclear businesses, Türkiye’s SMR program represents a second wave of opportunities — one that rewards early movers with first-choice partnerships and long-term influence over the region’s next generation of nuclear deployment.
Financing, Legal Advisory, and Risk Management
As Türkiye’s nuclear expansion moves beyond the Russian BOO framework used at Akkuyu, the door is opening to a far more diverse set of financing structures. Future projects at Sinop, Thrace, and in the SMR sector will require public-private partnerships, green bonds, export credit, and sovereign-backed investment vehicles. This creates fertile ground for international financiers and advisors to play a decisive role in shaping multi-billion-dollar projects.
The recent policy reversal by the World Bank, lifting its long-standing ban on nuclear funding, further broadens the horizon by unlocking access to global institutional capital. For financial advisory firms, law practices, insurers, and risk managers, the implications are clear: between 2025 and 2050, Türkiye will generate sustained demand for expertise in deal structuring, compliance, liability coverage, and project risk mitigation. Companies that establish a footprint early will position themselves as indispensable partners, not just in Türkiye’s domestic buildout, but in shaping regional financing models for nuclear newcomers inspired by Türkiye’s success.
Supply Chain Integration: 400+ Firms Gaining Nuclear Experience
Perhaps the most immediate opportunity lies in Türkiye’s industrial supply chain. More than 400 Turkish companies have gained nuclear-grade experience at Akkuyu, contributing to materials, logistics, and engineering. Akkuyu itself achieved 56% local content during construction, underscoring Ankara’s commitment to embedding nuclear into domestic industry.
For global suppliers, this creates a unique advantage: instead of entering a market from scratch, companies can leverage partnerships and joint ventures with experienced Turkish firms that already meet nuclear standards. This fast-tracks market entry, lowers regulatory hurdles, and creates opportunities to bid competitively on upcoming projects at Sinop, Thrace, and future SMR deployments.
The opportunity extends beyond Türkiye’s borders. With a growing roster of nuclear-qualified manufacturers, Turkish firms are positioning themselves as exporters to other newcomer nuclear nations. By partnering early, international suppliers of pumps, valves, cables, control systems, logistics services, and maintenance solutions can secure contracts in Türkiye’s domestic projects while simultaneously anchoring themselves in a supply chain with global export potential.
Human Capital: Investing in a Skilled Workforce
Türkiye recognizes that its goal to reach 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 depends as much on people as on infrastructure. The government has already built a strong foundation, sending more than 500 students abroad every year with full scholarships to study nuclear engineering and related disciplines in Russia, the UK, the US, and Germany. These international programs are reinforced by training collaborations with Rosatom, the IAEA, and leading global universities, ensuring that Turkish students gain exposure to international standards and best practices. Domestically, Türkiye has established facilities such as the ITU-TRR and TR-2 research reactors, alongside the Turkish Nuclear Training Centre (TNTC), to provide practical training for operators, regulators, and engineers..
For global training providers, simulator developers, and academic institutions, this presents not just a temporary role but a recurring market of partnerships and contracts. By aligning with Türkiye’s human capital strategy, international players can embed themselves in the very workforce that will run the country’s expanding fleet. Over the coming decades, the demand for continuous skills development, advanced simulation tools, and academic collaboration will remain high, providing education and training businesses with an enduring opportunity to shape, support, and profit from Türkiye’s nuclear growth.
Public Engagement, Stakeholder Communication, and Nuclear Culture
While Türkiye’s political leadership has consistently endorsed nuclear expansion, public perception remains a sensitive frontier where issues of safety, waste, and environmental risk continue to shape opinion. Managing these perceptions is not only essential for project stability but also represents a clear business opportunity. Companies specializing in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach will find a receptive market in Türkiye’s nuclear program. Beyond conventional communication channels, there is scope for innovative approaches such as nuclear tourism, visitor centers, and education initiatives designed to build transparency and trust among the public.
What makes this particularly attractive for international firms is the fact that Türkiye is not merely addressing its own domestic needs but is also developing a transferable model of public engagement. By demonstrating how to cultivate a pro-nuclear culture in a rapidly industrializing society, Türkiye is creating an asset that can be exported as consultancy and advisory services to other newcomer nations. For businesses in communications and social strategy, this is not simply about shaping perception in Türkiye; it is about joining a country that is setting the standard for how nuclear projects win public trust in the twenty-first century.
Regulatory, Legal, and Institutional Frameworks
Türkiye’s nuclear sector is anchored by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK), which oversees licensing, safety, and compliance. As the fleet expands from Akkuyu to Sinop, Thrace, and eventually small modular reactors, the regulatory environment will become increasingly complex, demanding specialized expertise to ensure projects progress smoothly. This growing need creates a wide opening for international legal firms, compliance consultancies, cybersecurity providers, and nuclear liability insurers who can bring global best practices to a market that is still shaping its long-term regulatory architecture. For business groups, this is not a marginal opportunity but a central one: in every nuclear buildout, the credibility and efficiency of regulatory processes determine the pace and security of investment. Companies that position themselves early in Türkiye’s regulatory ecosystem will not only secure contracts but also play a decisive role in setting the standards that will govern one of the fastest-growing nuclear markets over the next 25 years.
Operations, Maintenance, Waste Management, and Decommissioning
By 2030, as Akkuyu’s units operate in full, Türkiye will transition into a steady phase of operations and maintenance (O&M). This will create sustained demand for service contracts, spare parts, and digital optimization tools. Over the following decades, waste management solutions will gain importance — from interim storage facilities to long-term treatment technologies.
Even decommissioning, though still decades away, is already entering the conversation. For firms with decommissioning capabilities, the next 25 years offer the chance to embed expertise into Türkiye’s planning processes, securing a role in projects that will mature into multi-billion-dollar contracts by the 2040s and beyond. In this sense, Türkiye’s nuclear sector is not just about building reactors; it is about creating a full-cycle industry where opportunities exist at every stage of development, operation, and closure.
Moving Ahead: Türkiye’s 25-Year Nuclear Business Horizon
From 2025 to 2050, Türkiye’s nuclear journey will evolve from a first-of-its-kind BOO project at Akkuyu into a 20 GW nuclear powerhouse with advanced technologies, localized supply chains, and skilled human capital. This is not a short-term venture but a structured, quarter-century roadmap that offers sustained opportunities across construction, SMRs, supply chain integration, workforce development, financing, stakeholder engagement, and long-term operations.
This momentum is also reflected in Türkiye’s nuclear business diplomacy. The upcoming third edition of the Türkiye Nuclear Business Platform (TNBP) 2025, scheduled for 26–27 November 2025 in Ankara, will convene policymakers, industry leaders, and investors in what has become the country’s premier nuclear energy forum. Positioned as a central platform for high-level dialogue, TNBP 2025 will facilitate strategic partnerships and identify actionable investment opportunities across Türkiye’s evolving nuclear landscape.
Those who enter early will not just supply parts or services; they will help shape one of the world’s fastest-growing nuclear economies, gaining first-mover advantages that will carry through to 2050 and beyond. For firms looking to secure their place in the next great wave of nuclear energy growth, Türkiye is not a market to watch — it is a market to enter.
