Thinking Multiculturality in the Age of Hybrid Threats: Converging Cyber and Physical Security in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) are the most protected facilities among all critical infrastructures (CIs). In addition to physical security, cyber security becomes a significant concern for NPPs since swift digitalization and overreliance on computer-based systems in the facility operations transformed NPPs into targets for cyber/physical attacks. Despite technical competencies, humans are still the central component of a resilient NPP to develop an effective nuclear security culture. Turkey is one of the newcomers in the nuclear energy industry, and Turkish Akkuyu NPP has a unique model owned by an international consortium. Since Turkey has limited experience in nuclear energy industry, specific multinational and multicultural characteristics of Turkish Akkuyu NPP also requires further research in terms of the Facility's prospective nuclear security. Yet, the link between “national cultures” and “nuclear security” is underestimated in nuclear security studies. By relying on Hofstede's national culture framework, our research aims to address this gap and explore possible implications of cross-national cultural differences on nuclear security. To cope with security challenges in the age of hybrid threats, we propose a security management model which addresses the need for cyber-physical security integration to cultivate a robust nuclear security culture in a multicultural working environment. © 2022 Korean Nuclear Society, Published by Elsevier Korea LLC. This is an open access article under the third parties. This creates a situation in which physical security department uses digitized devices to protect facility and cyber security department has to protect its network with limited cooperation with physical security department. Turkey aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and diversify energy resources. In this respect, Turkey and Russian Federation signed an agreement to build a NPP in Turkey's Akkuyu province in 2010. Turkish NPP model differs from the world-wide NPPs since its contract is the first example for participation of foreign capital in a NPP to be built under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. Such model might be beneficial for newcomers by solving nuclear waste disposal challenge [3]. Nevertheless, safety and security culture should be re-considered as this model can undermine a host country's practices unless local partners are well trained [4]. In the Akkuyu NPP's financial structure, Rosatom, Russian Federation State company, is in a consortium with Turkish companies: Cengiz Holding, Kalyon Construction and Kolin Construction. According to the agreement while at least 51% of the shares of all investment should belong to Rosatom, Turkish companies has 49% of the shares