NEW YORK – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is partnering with Türkiye to open its market to small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants. USTDA signed an agreement with Türkiye Nükleer Enerji Anonim Şirketi (TÜNAŞ), Türkiye’s state-owned nuclear development enterprise, to fund technical assistance to create the regulatory, institutional, and financial roadmap needed for Turkish private sector companies to deploy SMR nuclear technology. This activity will increase Türkiye’s domestic energy production and advance the global competitiveness of American nuclear technology.
“Our goal is to advance TÜNAŞ’s efforts to create the conditions for deploying SMRs, which can increase energy security for Türkiye while providing opportunities for U.S. companies,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director. “This framework will incorporate international expertise in this fast-moving field while tailoring it to Türkiye’s specific needs.”
In November 2025, Türkiye set a goal to deploy 5,000 MWe of SMR capacity by 2050. USTDA’s assistance will identify the policy and investment steps needed to bring SMRs to market, producing recommendations to TÜNAŞ that Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority can then use to establish a clear, workable framework for SMR deployment through updates to the country’s nuclear regulations and procedures. This work will also include a review of how leading U.S. reactor designs could meet Türkiye’s needs, giving American SMR companies an early entry point into Türkiye’s civil nuclear sector. As Türkiye works to diversify its energy mix and strengthen its energy security, SMRs are well-suited to bring reliable power online by increasing Türkiye’s domestic energy production.
USTDA-funded programming is carried out by U.S. companies. The request for proposals for this technical assistance will be posted at www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said: “Türkiye’s efforts to advance SMRs and Gen IV reactor technologies are an integral part of our long-term objectives for energy security, industrial development, and the diversification of our low-carbon energy portfolio. Through its valuable support and the involvement of leading American expertise and innovation, USTDA’s program would certainly help strengthen our technical and institutional foundations for future SMR and advanced reactor projects, facilitate informed decision-making, and identify opportunities for long-term investment and industrial cooperation.”
This new assistance builds on Türkiye’s participation in a USTDA-hosted workshop in July 2026 that convened U.S. industry and government with European and Eurasian nuclear energy leaders to exchange best practices on nuclear energy deployment and showcased U.S. innovations to support the region’s energy security goals. USTDA has also approved funding to bring a delegation of Turkish nuclear energy decision-makers to the United States in 2027 on a reverse trade mission. Their visit will allow them to observe the best of American nuclear technology design, manufacturing and operations, as well as to hear firsthand about the U.S. regulatory environment.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is the U.S. government’s first mover on critical infrastructure development in emerging markets, advancing the shared strategic priorities of the United States and our overseas partners while creating opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. solutions. USTDA funds the upfront technical work that accelerates the development of infrastructure projects, helping them attract the financing they need for implementation and procurement of U.S. goods and services.
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