The Atatürk Dam and HEPP

The Atatürk Dam and HEPP

The Atatürk Dam is the largest structure ever built in Turkey for irrigation and hydropower generation. It is located on the Euphrates river and constitutes the key unit in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

HEPP of the dam will generate 8.9 billion kwh of electricity annually before irrigation starts. When the first stage of the irrigation scheme ( 142.000 hectares ) goes into operation it is expected to generate about 8.1 billion kwh of energy per year.

With the water impounded in the Atatürk reservoir it will be possible to irrigate about 882.000 hectares of which 476.000 hectares by gravity flow and the remaining 406.000 hectares by pumping.

The Atatürk Dam ranks the ninth-largest rockfilled dam in the world. The dam's body was completed in a relatively short time, in 80 months. During the construction, the most up-to date techniques were employed, such as computerized concrete preparation and casting. Around 7800 people, including more than 200 engineers and 1000 vehicles of all type were employed at the peak times of the construction on a three-shift basis.

The completion of the dam marked a milestone in the history of the project for which the following dates are important:

* Diversion Tunnels:

Commencing of work: Oct.1981

Completion of work:Jan.1986

*Dam and HEPP:

Commencing of work:Nov.1983****-Unit No 1 in operation:July16,1992****-Unit No 8 in operation:Dec.1,1993

Water impounding:Jan.1990

Completion of fill:Aug.1990

Electricity production: ****-1992 - 1.719.468,000kwh****-1993 - 5.256.000 820kwh****-1994-5.572.000.000kwh (first 9 months)

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