The Cyprus Environmental Organisations Federation (OPOK) has warned that the nuclear power plant under construction in Akkuyu, Turkey, poses a cross-border environmental and public health risk to Cyprus.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, OPOK said the plant, located around 65 kilometres from Cyprus, represents a matter of prevention, transparency and environmental protection, ahead of the expected operation of its first reactor in 2026.
The issue was discussed at a session of the Parliamentary Environment Committee on 11 February, where the potential impact of the project and Cyprus’ level of preparedness were examined.
According to OPOK, it emerged during the discussion that the Republic does not object to the construction of the plant itself, but to the absence of substantial consultation and exchange of information. The federation noted that Turkey is not a party to the Espoo Convention on transboundary environmental impact assessment and therefore has no legal obligation to inform other states.
State services told the committee they are acting within the limits of existing legislation, conducting sampling checks and continuous monitoring. Two permanent marine radiation monitoring stations are currently operating, with a third planned.
Under the “Electra” plan, 25 state services participate in a crisis management group responsible for sampling, dispersion modelling, public health and operational coordination. Particular emphasis was placed on the time factor, as any major development in the event of an incident would unfold within the first 24 hours due to the plant’s proximity.
OPOK said the issue goes beyond emergency management. It pointed to the plant’s location in a wider region with seismic activity, although it was stated during the committee session that the Mersin area had been assessed as the most suitable and comparatively less seismically active site for the facility.
The federation argued that environmental and social consequences extend beyond the risk of a major accident and cover the entire life cycle of the project. During normal operation, it said, the continuous intake of seawater for cooling and the discharge of thermal loads into the Mediterranean could affect marine ecosystems, while the management and temporary storage of radioactive materials remains a long-term environmental challenge.
In the event of a nuclear or radiological accident, OPOK said the effects would be transboundary, including the movement of radioactive material through air masses and sea currents, potential public health impacts and serious consequences for fisheries, agriculture and tourism. It added that the Mediterranean’s semi-enclosed nature limits the rapid dispersion of pollutants, increasing the potential duration of any impact.
While referring to the existence of the “Electra” plan under the broader national emergency framework “Zenon”, OPOK said that the operation of a nuclear installation so close to Cyprus requires continuous revision of protocols, stronger early warning systems and systematic public information.
The federation reiterated its opposition to nuclear energy, stating that it does not consider it a safe or sustainable option for the energy future and calling instead for a transition based on renewable energy, energy efficiency and the protection of future generations.
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