Education and Activities in Nuclear-Related Areas in Turkey H. Okan Zabunoğlu Prof. Dr. Department of Nuclear Engineering Faculty of Engineering Hacettepe University

Nuclear Education in Turkey Graduate Schools

First graduate institute in 1961: Nuclear Energy Institute at Istanbul Technical University (ITU)

In 2003, ITU-NEI was restructured as Energy Institute, with a graduate program in nuclear energy.

ITU-Institute has operated a training-research reactor (TRIGA) since 1970s, mainly for educational purposes, academic research and training.

Ege University (in Izmir) Nuclear Sciences Institute (1966)

EU - Nuclear Sciences Institute: Nuclear applications in industry, environmental radiation: detection/measurement...

Ankara University Nuclear Sciences Institute (2006)

AU – Nuclear Sciences Institute: Medical applications, health physics, radiation protection and monitoring…

Hacettepe University – Nuclear Sciences Institute (2003): Radiation physics and its applications… (a change in its name/content is under consideration) Turkish Flag Conference Hall

Undergraduate study Hacettepe University – Department of Nuclear Engineering: as a graduate school in 1977, undergraduate program in 1982. Founders: Emeritus Professors Yalçın Sanalan and Osman K. Kadiroğlu First and (still) only department to offer a Bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering since 1982.

About 2 years ago HU-NEM looked like this.

During reconstruction and renovation

Now looks like this...

Now looks like this...

HU-NEM 7 faculty members, 1 instructor, 10 research assistants Current enrollment : 185 undergraduate, 40 graduate students Current enrollment rate: 40 undergraduate students per year since 2011 (increased from 8 over the years) M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (also offered) since 1979. A total of 70 M.S. and 4 Ph.D. theses were completed.

The first year of study: Physics and its laboratory, mathematics, chemistry, programming, strength... The second year: Engineering mathematics, electronics, modern and nuclear physics, materials science, thermodynamics… The third year: Fluid mechanics, numerical methods, heat transfer, introduction to nuclear engineering/technology… The fourth year: Nuclear reactor theory, reactor engineering, nuclear fuel cycle, fuels and materials, reactor control, radiation laboratory…

In addition, project courses each semester, and a design study (graduation project) in the ultimate semester Practical training (a total of 8 weeks) at a thermal power plant and in research centers of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority.

A total of about 300 graduates so far 62 went overseas (mostly to the US) for graduate study; some with scholarships from the Ministry of National Education, most with assistantships from US universities. 15 came back and most of them work as academics at several universities in Turkey. 47 stayed overseas (mainly in US); working as nuclear engineers, researchers, academics in respected institutions, companies; a few in the stage of graduate study.

Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (ETKB), and Electricity Generation Company (EÜAŞ) are the leading employers of nuclear engineers. Some work in the private sector. As nuclear projects get ahead, more nuclear engineers are expected to be employed by the private sector.

Looking back upon nuclear-related activities 1956: Establishment of General Secretariat for Atomic Energy Commission

The Atomic Energy Commission was organized as Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) in 1982.

1960: First feasibility study for nuclear power 1961: First research center, Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center of TAEK 1962: First research reactor (TR-1) at Çekmece Center, shut down in 1977

1968: First mention of nuclear power in development plans; and since then, in every 5-year development plan 1976: Site license for Akkuyu Site 1983, 1990s through 2000: Several attempts to build a NPP at Akkuyu Site 1984: TR-2 research reactor in Çekmece Center, operable today 2001: Electricity Market Law, privatization and liberalization in electricity sector, and a market regulatory body

2007: Law on Construction and Operation of Nuclear Power Plants and Energy Sale, all related issues are addressed 2008-2009: Bid for construction of a plant at Akkuyu, only one offer, canceled 2010: Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between Turkey and Russia (for construction of up to 4 nuclear reactors at Akkuyu), passed from the Turkish Parliament 2010 (December): Akkuyu Electricity Generation Joint Stock Company (3 companies under Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear entity)

About the Akkuyu project

The Akkuyu site

Akkuyu project is under way. It covers four VVER1200 units at Akkuyu site. The total fixed capital cost is estimated to be about 20 billion US $ (by Rosatom). Operating life is 60 years. Application for the construction license probably in 2012 or 2013. Around 2014, construction may start. It is expected to commission the first unit around 2020.

Last September, 50 Turkish students (mostly 1st graders, 10 from our department) started education in Russia, receiving scholarship from the Akkuyu Co. Russian plans in general are for providing about two thirds of the NPP personnel from the partner country. So, such scholarships (also anticipated from several institutions of the Turkish State), spreading to graduate level and special training etc., are expected to continue.

As for the Sinop project

About Sinop project A NPP, probably together with a nuclear research complex, is planned at Sinop site on the Black Sea coast. Limited site-investigation yet Negotiations with interested partners from S. Korea and Japan started a few years ago; and are still continuing. The prime importance: Technology development/transfer dimension of the issue…

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