Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holding (SAHOL.IS) will join a tender to build Turkey's first nuclear power station with a technological and a strategic partner, Ihlas news agency, or IHA, reported Wednesday, citing business daily Dunya.
The deadline for bids for the tender is Sept. 24. The power station, which will have a capacity of about 4,000 megawatts, will be built at Akkuyu in the southern province of Mersin.
Speaking to Dunya, company executive IhlaSelahattin Hakman said the company is talking with partners from the U.S., Europe and the far east.
The technologial partner will be chosen once an experienced strategic partner is chosen, Hakman said.
Sabanci Holding chairwoman Guler Sabanci told Japan's Nikkei Business Daily in March that the company was interested in the tender, adding it could cooperate with Japanese firms in the project.
Power plants fueled by natural gas produce nearly half of Turkey's total electricity output. Turkey imports most of its natural gas from Russia and Iran.
In late February, Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said nuclear power should meet 20% of Turkey's energy needs and decrease reliance on imported gas.
Turkish construction firm ENKA Insaat (ENKAI.IS) said late January it has signed a preliminary agreement with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEP) to cooperate on bidding for the nuclear energy project.
Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding (KCHOL.IS) and Turkish gas and power company Zorlu Enerji Elektrik Uretim AS (ZOREN.IS) are among the firms interested in bidding.