Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has ruled out the prospect of enriching uranium as part of its nuclear program.

Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan would not develop uranium enrichment capability.

The officials said Erdogan, accompanied by a large government and business delegation, did not reach agreement with Japan to produce nuclear fuel.

“We don’t have any project regarding nuclear fuel and [uranium] enrichment,” Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said.

In a briefing on Jan. 8, Yildiz acknowledged that Turkey sought to learn to produce nuclear fuel for its four planned reactors. But he said Ankara’s interest did not extend to establishing a uranium enrichment sector.

“There are three or four stages regarding nuclear fuel process and being involved in any of those stages or Turkey’s desire to be involved in them should not be perceived as nuclear fuel enrichment,” Yildiz said. “Enrichment is a different matter.”

The Japanese media asserted that Ankara wanted Tokyo to transfer
technology and expertise in the area of uranium enrichment and plutonium
extraction. The media said the transfers could be part of a $22 billion deal
for Japan to build nuclear reactors in Turkey.

“We want to enter a business related to that. France can do this and we
will look if we can do something with France,” Yildiz said.

In 2013, the Erdogan government acknowledged that the United States
refused to provide technology for Turkey’s nuclear program. So far, Ankara
has selected Russia and a Japanese-led consortium for reactors in Akuyu and
Sinop.

“As we don’t have any demand for uranium enrichment in Turkey, there
will not be any supply,” Yildiz said. “We are not aiming at generation for
sure. It is a pre-made decision.”

  nuclear fuel enrichment, Recep Erdogan, Shinzo Abe, Taner Yildiz, Turkey counters Japanese media reports on uranium enrichment option