Concerns raised over safety of Akkuyu nuclear power plant at environment committee session

During a session of the Parliamentary Environment Committee on Wednesday, government departments and various organizations presented scientific data regarding the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey. Kyriakos Tsimillis, representing the Cyprus Anti-Nuclear Platform, highlighted the ongoing efforts since 1997 to address the risks posed by such facilities in seismically sensitive regions. The platform, formally established in 2015, advocates for an Eastern Mediterranean free of nuclear power. Specific concerns discussed included the management of radioactive waste and thermal pollution caused by discharging cooling water into the sea. Additionally, the committee addressed the potential for accidents or terrorist acts given the regional political instability. Tsimillis also expressed worry regarding a separate nuclear project being built by the Russian state company Rosatom in Egypt since July 2022. The meeting served as a formal recording of scientific evidence and risks associated with these regional developments.