News

14.03.2023

AKKUYU NPP FIREFIGHTERS BECAME WINNERS IN SPORTS ALL-AROUND

March 13, 2023, Mersin, Turkey. – At the special invitation of the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, employees of AKKUYU NUCLEAR Fire Safety Service took part in the all-around sports competitions at the site of the Municipality Fire Service. The results of the contest outlined current standards for fitness level of candidates for the fire departments of the region.

For two days, the teams competed in 15 disciplines: a set of exercises of general physical training with elements of fire-applied sports and running at various distances. Akkuyu NPP was represented by two fire safety officers – 1st class fireman Hüsnü Fil and 3rd class fireman Yunus Çiftçi. Yunus is the youngest fireman of the nuclear power plant under construction, he is only 21 years old. His colleague Hüsnü Fil, on the contrary, is one of the most experienced, and at the age of 46 he became one of the best among the competition participants.

Head of the Fire Safety Service, Roman Melnikov: “Officers of the AKKUYU NUCLEAR Fire Safety Service are constantly in the training process. This applies to both professional emergency training and fitness. Yunus Çiftçi took first place in the competition for good reason, while Hüsnü Fil placed second, by a wide margin from third place. I thank our colleagues from Mersin for the invitation and warm welcome.”

Based on the outcome of the competitions, the organizers will evaluate the results of the participants and form the entrance examinations criteria for personnel employment for fire departments of Mersin province.

Akkuyu NPP Fire Safety Service officers have repeatedly become winners and prize-winners of international sporting events. In 2022, AKKUYU NUCLEAR firefighters took part in the World Firefighters Games in Lisbon, where they won 38 medals. 

AKKUYU NUCLEAR Fire Service was established in 2015. In 2022, the division received the Turkish Standards Certificate — this is the first time in the Republic when the structure of an international company was awarded such a document. Officers demonstrate an exceptionally high level of professionalism, constantly participating in retraining programs and in the exercises of the fire services of the Republic of Turkey. Akkuyu NPP firefighters have repeatedly supported their Turkish colleagues in extinguishing fires.  The courage and selfless actions shown by AKKUYU NUCLEAR fire safety service of in extinguishing the fire in Iskenderun Port cargo terminal in Hatay after the earthquake in February this year, were awarded with professional prizes.

For reference:

Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant being built in the Republic of Turkey. The Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ VVER reactors of Russian design. The capacity of each NPP power unit will be 1200 MW. Currently, the project is entirely financed by the Russian side. Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate model.

According to terms and conditions of the Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, the NPP's first power unit is supposed ti be commissioned within 7 years after obtaining all construction authorizations and licenses. Taking into account the receipt of a construction license for power unit No. 1 in 2018, this period means 2025. At the same time, the project participants are making every effort to ensure that in 2023, the anniversary year for the Republic of Turkey, a key event takes place – the delivery of fresh nuclear fuel to the Akkuyu NPP site.