Turkey, Japan to sign memorandum on nuclear power plant this week

CAIRO, Dec. 22 Kyodo -
Turkey said Wednesday it will sign a memorandum of understanding with Japan
concerning Turkey's planned construction of a nuclear power plant in the Black
Sea coastal city of Sinop, a move raising the prospect of Japan's winning the
project.
In Tokyo, the Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry announced that its
minister Akihiro Ohata will ink the memorandum Friday with Turkish Energy and
Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, who is set to visit Japan this week.
''This will be a huge step toward Japan's receiving an order for a nuclear
power plant,'' a Japanese government source said. ''We are hoping that we can
manage to win the order.''
Japan's Toshiba Corp. has shown interest in taking part in the construction.
After signing the memorandum, the two countries are expected to step up their
talks on details.
The Japanese government is trying to help Japanese firms in increasingly severe
competition with rivals from other companies in exports of such infrastructure
as nuclear power plants and railways.
Turkey suspended its negotiations with South Korea on the project in November
after they failed to conclude a deal.
Yildiz is also set to meet with Prime Minister Naoto Kan during his stay until
Saturday.
==Kyodo