Turkey is advancing plans to build a nuclear power plant with South Korea, aiming to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependence on imports. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Ankara hopes to reach a decision this year on the joint project, which would be the country's second nuclear facility.

South Korea and Korea Electric Power Corporation are expected to present a binding proposal to move negotiations forward. The plant would be located along Turkey's Black Sea coast, joining a Russian-built facility on the Mediterranean that is set to begin operations later this year.

Bayraktar also revealed discussions with Electricite de France SA about small modular reactors, though these talks remain in early stages. The push for nuclear energy is part of Turkey's broader strategy to become a global energy player, including investments in Canadian oil and gas fields and expanded Black Sea exploration with Shell.