Turkey will open up the bidding process to build the country's third nuclear power plant next year, and an official says he believes Chinese companies will aggressively pursue the contract, worth $22 billion to $25 billion.

The site of the project has been finalized, and the plan is to build four nuclear reactors with a total installed capacity of 5,000 megawatts, says Murat Mercan, Turkey's former deputy energy minister.

He spoke to China Daily during an event in Beijing held by the World Energy Council. Mercan is also a member of the council's Turkish committee.

State Nuclear Power Technology Corp, one of China's three nuclear giants, and the United States-based Westinghouse Electric Corp are potential bidders, he says.

"The bidding will be open to investors and firms from all over the world, but I think Chinese nuclear companies are very competitive in terms of price, safety and technology. China is building nuclear power plants using its own third-generation nuclear reactor, and I don't see why we can't use it."

China is embarking on a massive nuclear power program and plans to export its indigenous models such as CAP1400, a reactor developed by State Nuclear Power Technology, to overseas markets.

Experts say that after construction on the flagship CAP1400 project in Shidao Bay, Shandong province, starts in the first half of this year, foreign buyers will be more convinced about China's capacity to deliver reactors for the global market.

Mercan says Turkey needs at least $70 billion in investments in the energy sector to meet rising demand and optimize its energy mix as it relies heavily on imports.

Russia's Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corp is building the country's first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, in the southern province of Mersin, and the first unit is expected to be completed by 2022.

The second nuclear plant, to be located in the Black Sea province of Sinop, has been contracted to a consortium consisting of Mitsubishi Electric Corp of Japan and French power company EDF.

Sources say there is a great chance for a Chinese company to win the tender next year, given the close ties between the two countries.

Mercan also extended an invitation to Chinese companies to attend the 23rd World Energy Council congress in Istanbul in October.

lvchang@chinadaily.com.cn