The Turkish government has not formally approved the offer by a
consortium headed by Russia's state-owned Atomstroyexport. Other members of
the consortium including Russia's Inter Rao as well as Turkey's Park Teknik.
Officials have criticized the Russian bid as too expensive. But they
acknowledged that no other company submitted an offer for the $1 billion
project, expected to be the first of four 1,200 megawatt power units planned
by Ankara.
The agreement, also signed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, also
included Russian training in nuclear safety. Officials said the training
would prepare personnel to respond to early-warning of nuclear accidents.
Russia and Turkey also signed an agreement for an energy pipeline
project meant to reach Western Europe. The South Stream pipeline was
regarded as a rival of the U.S.-supported Nabucco, designed to supply
natural gas from Central Asia without Russian involvement.
"Even with the construction of South Stream, Nabucco will not be
closed," Putin said. "The more infrastructure projects, the better, because
that will create reliability and stability of energy supply to Europe."