Russian President Vladimir Putin today hailed Moscow-Ankara’s fast-growing ties in the energy sector and wider economic sectors as he joined his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan online in the opening ceremony of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom built the Akuyu nuclear power plant, and today’s ceremony marked the first loading of nuclear fuel into the first power plant in Turkey’s southern Mersin province.

“This is an iconic projectPutin said during the online communication.

“It brings mutual economic benefits and, of course, helps to strengthen the multifaceted partnership between our two states.”

Putin described Akuyu as “the world’s largest nuclear power plant construction project” and noted that it would mean Turkey would have to import less Russian gas in the future.

“But Turkey will enjoy the advantage of a country that has its own nuclear power, and nuclear power, as you know, is one of the cheapest“, he added.

Erdogan thanked Putin for his support in Akuyu, adding:

“We will take steps to build a second and a third nuclear power plant in Turkey as soon as possible.”

Turkey is a member of NATO, but Erdogan has managed to maintain cordial relations with Putin despite the war in Ukraine. Last year, Turkey helped broker, along with the United Nations, a deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports to resume.

In a phone call before the ceremony in Akuyu, Erdogan and Putin also discussed the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea grain deal, the Turkish presidency said.

Putin, keen to create new markets for Russian hydrocarbons outside of Europe, traditionally Moscow’s main customer, repeated his call for Turkey to become a regional gas hub “to supply natural gas to interested foreign buyers at market prices».

The $20 billion, 4,800 megawatt (MW) project at Akuyu involves the construction of four reactors that will allow Turkey to join the small club of countries with nuclear power for civilian use.

“We plan to complete the operation of the unit (plant) next year… in order to be able to produce electricity on a stable basis from 2025 as agreed” said Andrei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, in Mersin before the ceremony.

The Turkish president, who is suffering from viral gastroenteritis, appeared on television today for the first time since Tuesday night, on the occasion of the inauguration of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

In images broadcast by Turkish television, the Turkish head of state appears pale, listening to a video conference message from Putin.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca had earlier said that Erdogan’s health was good and that the president would resume his daily schedule as soon as possible. “The symptoms of the infectious gastroenteritis that afflicted him have subsided,” the minister said.

The first round of crucial presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey will be held on May 14.