Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canadian engineering and nuclear technology company AtkinsRéalis is a strong contender to help develop Türkiye's planned third nuclear power plant. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on October 23, Carney said competition remained active, the final choice belonged to the Turkish government and a decision could be made before the end of 2026.
His comments came one day after Türkiye and Canada elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership. The countries' three-year action plan covers energy, trade, investment, defence and diplomatic cooperation. Civil nuclear power, liquefied natural gas and renewable energy are among the areas highlighted within the broader partnership.
AtkinsRéalis began its Türkiye assessment in March
AtkinsRéalis subsidiary Candu Energy and the Türkiye Nuclear Energy Company, or TUNAS, signed a memorandum of understanding on March 3, 2026, to explore the deployment of Canadian CANDU reactor technology in Türkiye. According to the company's official announcement, the work is intended to assess technical and commercial opportunities connected with Türkiye's plan to add three reactors to its nuclear programme.
The memorandum is not a construction contract or a decision to purchase a reactor. It provides a framework for information exchange, feasibility work and evaluation of possible business models. Carney's latest remarks indicate greater confidence on the Canadian side, but Türkiye has not announced that AtkinsRéalis has been selected as a contractor or technology provider.
A third plant is planned for the Thrace region
Türkiye's first nuclear power station is being built by Russia's Rosatom at Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast. A second large plant is planned in the Black Sea region of Sinop, while a third project is intended for the northwestern Thrace region. Reuters reported that Ankara has also discussed the third project with South Korea, Russia, China and Japan.
Carney cited the record of CANDU technology, possible construction partnerships with Turkish businesses and the ability to establish parts of the supply chain locally as strengths of the Canadian proposal. Although those points now have high-level political backing, the reactor count, financing structure, total cost, power-purchase terms and construction schedule have not been announced.
The Canadian proposal is based on heavy-water CANDU technology. The company's official statement confirms that deployment opportunities are being studied, but it does not identify a specific reactor configuration, installed capacity or detailed site design. Until the technical assessment is completed, firm figures for cost, electricity output or the share of Turkish industrial participation would be premature.
A year-end decision is not a binding deadline
The prime minister's statement that a decision may come before year-end is not a binding tender calendar announced by Türkiye. Project selection will depend on technical assessment, financing, site work, licensing, safety reviews and international nuclear obligations. The current development should therefore be understood as increased political visibility for the Canadian bid, not a final investment decision.
Turkish and Canadian officials continued discussing the applicability of CANDU technology after the March memorandum. The new strategic partnership gives those technical contacts a wider energy and trade framework. The partnership itself, however, does not award the project to AtkinsRéalis and does not eliminate proposals from other countries.
A nuclear project decision involves more than choosing a reactor supplier. Fuel services, waste management, workforce development, regulatory oversight and long-term maintenance arrangements also shape its economic and safety profile. No binding commercial terms covering those areas have been disclosed for an AtkinsRéalis project in Türkiye.
Türkiye's eventual decision will matter not only for planned nuclear capacity but also for technology choice, domestic industrial participation and long-term energy security. For now, the verified position is that AtkinsRéalis is under consideration, Canada's government views it as a strong candidate and the final decision rests with Türkiye. Until a contract, cost and start date are formally announced, the proposal remains at the candidacy and assessment stage.
