Turkey’s second nuclear power plant, to be developed by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHE) and Itochu Corporation in co-ordination with France’s GDF Suez, is expected to be operational by 2023.

The Turkish Government had given approval to the consortium earlier this year, in May.

The 4,800MW nuclear plant, located in the Black Sea coastal city of Sinop, is expected to cost $22bn.

Atmea1 reactors developed by MHE and French energy firm Areva will be installed at the facility, reportsReuters.

MHE Energy & Environment VP Terumasa Onaka told Reuters that the Turkish Parliament will approve the country’s agreement with Japan, which had been signed in 2013.

The construction of the facility is expected to start between 2017-18 after the feasibility study and the licensing process, Onaka informed.

Turkey is expected to have a 50% stake in the project while remaining equity is likely to be shared between the three firms.

Turkey will also start construction of its first planned nuclear plant by next spring, reports the Hurriyet Daily News.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said: “We want to break ground for the Akkuyu nuclear plant in March or April.”

Located near Akkuyu in the southern province of Mersin on the Mediterranean coast, the $22bn plant will be built and operated by Russian nuclear power producer Rosatom.

Japan will also bid for the construction of another power plant in Turkey, reports Hurriyet Daily News.