According to him, the Akkuyu project was progressing well in 2017 and early 2018. In October 2017, the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) issued a limited permit for the construction of non-nuclear facilities of the power plant. In December, the site was prepared to pour a concrete foundation for the first reactor unit.

According to the estimates of Akkuyu Nükleer, Turkish companies are expected to do about 35–40% of construction work at Akkuyu for a total of $6–8 billion. Applications for inclusion in the list of potential suppliers have been sent by more than 350 local companies.

Turkish media reported in March that foundation concreting for the reactor building of Akkuyu Unit 1 would begin in April. After that, the nuclear power plant will be officially assigned the ‘under construction’ status. According to media reports, the first concrete pouring ceremony might be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.