Turkey plans to launch the construction of its first nuclear power plant (NPP) in March or April next year, Energy Minister Taner Y?ld?z has said.

in 2011, Russia’s Rosatom signed a deal with Turkey’s Energy Ministry to build and operate the nuclear power plant, which will be located near Akkuyu, in the southern province of Mersin on the Mediterranean coast.

The cost of the project is estimated at some USD 22 B, Y?ld?z said at a news conference on Friday following a farewell ceremony for 83 Turkish nuclear engineering students set to travel to Russia for training. Upon return, they will staff Akkuyu, which is expected to produce about 35 billion kWh of electricity per year.

The construction of the plant’s four reactors with installed capacity of 1,200 MW each will not begin until 2016. The plant is planned to become partly operational four years later and fully operational in 2023. Its life cycle is projected at 60 years.

An environmental impact assessment for the project will be completed next month, Yildiz said. The area where the plant is to be built, is known for its natural beauty.

Turkey also plans to build a second nuclear power plant at an estimated cost of USD 22 B, to be located in Sinop, on the Black Sea coast. The government has already awarded the construction to a consortium comprising Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Itochu Corporation andFrance’s GDF Suez.

Turkey is trying to diversify its energy resources with nuclear power to reduce ite dependence on energy imports that put a heavy burden on state finances. Imports of natural gas and oil, which account for nearly 50% of Turkey's electricity production, cost up to USD 60 B a year.