As Turkey gets geared for its first nuclear power plant, GE Energy Western Europe and North Africa President Ricardo Cordoba has announced the company’s plans to bid for the project while speaking at the European Regions General Assembly 2009.
Cordoba said that GE Energy would be bidding for the nuclear plants with other companies adding: “We want to firstly work on preparing a tender by ourselves; however, there are many companies in Turkey and in the world which we are currently discussing forming a joint tender with. Unfortunately I cannot name these companies.” He also noted that his company was leaning towards the option of a 25-30% government stake in the plant, adding: “We will transfer our knowledge and experience to this project, and our priority is to provide the materials and the technology for the plants. We don’t intermingle with our customers’ demands.”
Speaking about GE Energy’s research and development centers, Cordoba highlighted that his company was thinking of opening one in Turkey, adding, “We don’t establish research and development centers everywhere, but we are definitely thinking of building one in Turkey.” Moreover, Cordoba mentioned that Turkey’s aging coal-fired power plants need to go through a “rehabilitation period” as they are “too old. Turkey needs to build new power plants in their place.”
On the recent removal of the new renewable energy law from parliament’s agenda, Cordoba said: “We haven’t changed our investment goals despite this; we will not, however, make moves in Turkey based on assumptions and are waiting for concrete steps to be taken.” Speaking about their plans for the greater European market, he added: “Europe plans to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, and 35% of this is to come from electricity production. We need to take measures to prepare for this.”