Ilısu Dam

Ilısu Dam

Model of the dam
Location of Ilısu Dam in Turkey
Official name Ilısu Baraji
Country Turkey
Location Dargeçit, Mardin Province, Turkey
Coordinates 37°31′52.20″N 41°50′58.75″E / 37.5311667°N 41.8496528°E / 37.5311667; 41.8496528Coordinates: 37°31′52.20″N 41°50′58.75″E / 37.5311667°N 41.8496528°E / 37.5311667; 41.8496528
Purpose Power
Flood control
Irrigation
Status Under construction
Construction began August 5, 2006
Opening date 2017 (est.)
Construction cost US$1.7 billion
Owner(s) State Hydraulic Works
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment, concrete-face rock-fill
Impounds Tigris
Height (thalweg) 135 m (443 ft)
Length 1,820 m (5,971 ft)
Elevation at crest 530 m (1,739 ft)
Width (crest) 15 m (49 ft)
Width (base) 610 m (2,001 ft)
Dam volume 43,800,000 m3 (35,509 acre·ft)
Spillway type Service overflow, controlled-chute
Spillway capacity 18,000 m3/s (635,664 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates Ilısu Reservoir
Total capacity 10,410,000,000 m3 (8,440,000 acre·ft)
Active capacity 7,460,000,000 m3 (6,050,000 acre·ft)
Inactive capacity 2,950,000,000 m3 (2,390,000 acre·ft)
Catchment area 35,517 km2 (13,713 sq mi)[1]
Surface area 313 km2 (121 sq mi)[2]
Maximum length 244 km (152 mi) (combined)
Maximum water depth 126.8 m (416 ft)
Normal elevation 525 m (1,722 ft)
Power station
Commission date 2017 (est.)
Hydraulic head 122.6 m (402 ft) (gross)
Turbines 6 x 200 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity 1,200 MW
Annual generation 3,833 GWh (est.)
Website
ilisuprojesi.com

The Ilısu Dam (Turkish pronunciation: [ɯɫɯˈsu]) is a concrete-face rock-fill dam under construction on the Tigris near the village of Ilısu and along the border of Mardin and Şırnak Provinces in Turkey. It is one of the 22 dams of the Southeastern Anatolia Project and its purpose is hydroelectric power production, flood control and water storage. When complete, the dam will support a 1,200 MW power station and will form a 10.4 billion m3 reservoir. Construction of the dam began in 2006 and it is expected to be complete by 2016.[3][4] As part of the project, the much smaller Cizre Dam is to be constructed downstream for irrigation and power. The dam has drawn international controversy,[5] because it will flood portions of ancient Hasankeyf and necessitate the relocation of people living in the region. Because of this, the dam lost international funding in 2008.[6] Kurdish militants have also attacked infrastructure associated with the dam which has led to construction delays.

Design

The Ilısu Dam will be a 135 m (443 ft) high and 1,820 m (5,971 ft) wide rock-fill embankment dam with a structural volume of 43,900,000 m3 (35,590 acre·ft). It will be 15 m (49 ft) wide at its crest and 610 m (2,001 ft) wide at its base. The dam will have an overflow spillway on its right bank which will be controlled by eight radial gates which will pour into four chutes before the water reaches a plunge pool. Its power station will be above ground and will contain 6 x 200 MW Francis turbine-generators with an expected annual generation of 3,833 GWh and gross hydraulic head of 122.6 m (402 ft). The dam's reservoir will have a capacity of 10,400,000,000 m3 (8,431,417 acre·ft), of which 7,460,000,000 m3 (6,050,000 acre·ft) will be active (or live, useful) storage and 2,950,000,000 m3 (2,390,000 acre·ft) will be inactive (dead) storage. At a normal elevation of 525 m (1,722 ft) above sea level, the reservoir surface area will cover 313 km2 (121 sq mi).[2][7][8][9]

Background

Beginning in 1954 the Turkish government surveyed 53 kilometres (33 mi) of the Tigris river downstream of Diyarbakır with the aim of identifying suitable locations for a hydroelectric power plant at an elevation below 550 metres (1,800 ft).[10][11] Turkey's Electric Power Resources Survey and Development Administration (EIE) included 10 potential sites in its 1971 Tigris River Pre-Investigation Report.[10] By 1975, the EIE had completed a technical and economic evaluation of the sites.[10] Ilısu was selected as the preferred site for geological reasons.[10] A feasibility study and final design by international consultants (1980–82) resulted in a recommendation to construct both the Ilısu Dam and the Cizre Dam downstream.[12]

There was little movement on the project for more than 15 years until the dam was added to the State Hydraulic Works' formal construction program in 1997 or 1998.[11][12]

On August 5, 2006 the foundation stone for the dam was laid and initial construction began.[13]

Funding issues

To avoid inflation and other economic repercussions, the Turkish Government has often sought outside assistance to fund the Ilısu Dam Project. However, pressure from environmental and human rights groups have often halted this process. In 2000, the British Government declined $236 million in funding for the Ilısu Dam. Before the 2006 ground-breaking ceremony, German, Swiss and Austrian export credit agencies had agreed to fund $610 million of the project. In December 2008, the European firms suspended funds for the dam and gave Turkey a 180-day period to comply with over 150 international standards. In June 2009, after failing to meet the standards, the European firms officially cut the funding for the Ilısu Dam Project. Shortly after the announcement of the funding loss, Turkey's Environment Minister Veysel Eroğlu said “Let me tell you this, these power plants will be built. No one can stop it. This is the decision of the state and the government.” Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is also committed to the Ilısu Dam Project as well and claims Turkey will use internal or other international funding. Turkey stated that construction would start again in July 2009.[14] In February 2010 it was announced that loans had been granted and the project would continue.[15] On 15 July 2010, Andritz Hydro lifted a temporary suspension on supplying parts to the project and announced it would provide the six 200 MW Francis turbines for the power plant.[16]

Construction

As part of early and ongoing construction, 52 km (32 mi) of roads are subject to raising and repairing work. A 110 m (361 ft) long temporary bridge was constructed upstream of the dam site which is supported by 30 sections of steel pipe. Additionally, a 250 m (820 ft) permanent steel-girder bridge with concrete supports was constructed just downstream of the dam.[13] Construction of new Ilısu and Koçtepe villages are currently underway as well as the relocation of major portions of Hasankeyf. Excavations for the main body of the dam began in May 2011 and the first loads of fill were laid in January 2012.[17] Diversion of the Tigris River began during a ceremony on 29 August 2012.[18] As of April 2014 the project is 60% complete while the resettlement of Hasankeyf is 73% complete. All works are expected to be completed in 2015.[19]

In 2014, the dam, as well as others in southeast Turkey such as the Silvan Dam, became a prime target of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants after peace talks collapsed with the government. Attacks on the dam, supporting structures and workers are part of the PKK's efforts to stop construction. Construction of the dam was suspended temporarily late in the year.[20] On 3 February 2015 a convoy of supplies for the dam was attacked, injuring three. Several days later a worker was killed in his home by suspected PKK militants.[21][22]

Controversy

The Tigris flowing past the town of Hasankeyf, much of which will be flooded by the filling of the dam

Completion of the Ilısu Dam will cause the flooding of the majority of the ancient city of Hasankeyf, whose history stretches back over 10,000 years. About 199 settlements (villages and hamlets) will be fully or partially affected by flooding as well.[23] This figure excludes vacant settlements, which will also be inundated. Three decades of conflict between the Turkish government and the PKK has resulted in the depopulation of many hamlets in the area, and so now their original inhabitants will never be able to return home either, in addition to the others who still live in the region. In 2006, the Turkish government estimated that 61,620 people would be "physically or economically displaced".[24] Using 1990 census data, it had previously estimated that 55,127 people would be affected; updating these calculations using 2000 survey data produced a figure of 71,186.[24]

The official Turkish government line was expressed by then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the ground-breaking ceremony in 2006: "The step that we are taking today demonstrates that the south-east is no longer neglected. This dam will bring big gains to the local people." The government says the project will generate 10,000 jobs, spur agricultural production through irrigation and boost tourism,[25] although others argue that the tourism industry will be ruined due to the loss of Hasankeyf and that the local people will be forced to move to cities because the amount of money they were given to buy new homes in the region is insufficient. It has additionally been theorized that the main motive of this project is to Turkify the Kurds of the region, as forcing them to move to cities for jobs will pressure them to assimilate.[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ilısu Projesi" (PDF) (in Turkish). Ekindusu. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Ilısu Dam Environmental Impact Assessment" (PDF). State Hydraulic Works. 2005. pp. TABLE 2–2 (PDF Pages 110–111). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ilısu Project Target 2014". Haberler. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Gusten, Susanne (30 March 2011). "Court Case Could Slow Turkish Dam Project". New York Times. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  5. ↑ http://iraqmarshrestoration.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/ilusu-dam.html
  6. ↑ http://iraqmarshrestoration.blogspot.co.uk/p/press-release-doga-dernegi-support-for.html
  7. ↑ "DSI X. REGIONAL OFFICE - DİYARBAKIR - Mardin Office" (in Turkish). State Hydraulic Works. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Ilısu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant" (in Turkish). Nurol Construction and Trading Co. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  9. ↑ "Ilısu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant be completed in 2014" (in Turkish). Construction and Building News. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 4 EIAR 2005, p. 2–9.
  11. 1 2 Harte 2013.
  12. 1 2 EIAR 2005, p. 2–10.
  13. 1 2 Ilısu Dam web site 2011.
  14. ↑ Angell, Elizabeth (2009-08-19). "The Ilisu Dam's Uncertain Future". Chinadialogue.net. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  15. ↑ "Turkey says to continue Ilisu dam project Erdogan said the construction of a dam and". World Bulletin. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  16. ↑ "Andritz Hydro to equip Ilisu hydropower project in Turkey". Hydro World. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  17. ↑ "Ilisu Project Status Report" (PDF) (in Turkish). State Hydraulic Works. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "Ilisu Dam Diversion was initiated.". State Hydraulic Works. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  19. ↑ "Ilisu Projesi İş İlerleme Durum Raporu" (PDF) (in Turkish). State Hydraulic Works. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Turkey’s Biggest Dam Project Victim of Faltering Peace". Bloomberg Business. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "workers threatened the PKK bloody executions" (in Turkish). Yeni Safak. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "Supply convoy for Ilısu Dam attacked: 3 injured" (in Turkish). Vatan. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  23. ↑ URAP Amendments 2006, p. 5.
  24. 1 2 URAP Amendments 2006, p. 2.
  25. ↑ BBC News & 5 August 2006.
  26. ↑ https://corporatewatch.org/news/2015/sep/18/save-hasankeyf-stop-il%C4%B1su-dam

Sources


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