Ilısu Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant reached 9.8 billion kilowatt-hours and contributed 31 billion TL to the economy

Ilisu Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) has contributed 31 billion TL to the country’s economy by reaching an energy production of 9.8 billion kilowatt-hours since its opening on May 19, 2020. Planning of the dam, which was designed in 1982 following the plans made since the 1950s, but laid the foundation by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2009 and completed on May 19, 2020, contributes to both the regional and national economy. Ranking second in terms of body volume after the Atatürk Dam, the dam is the fourth largest dam in Turkey after Atatürk, Karakaya, and Keban Dams. Ilisu Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu Dam and HPP, which was repeatedly targeted by PKK terrorists during the construction process and despite terrorist attacks, was built and put into service for 8.5 billion TL. State Hydraulic Works (DSI) 16th Regional Director Cihan Aksoy, in a statement to the AA correspondent, said that Ilisu Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu Dam and HPP flourished with spring rains and provided significant contributions to both the regional and national economy. In the first 5 months of 2023, 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours of energy were produced. Cihan stated that the production quantity was 660 million kilowatt-hours in the first 5 months of 2023, and reached 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours in the same period of 2024. He said, ‘With the spring rains, as in all our dams, the water level at Ilisu Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu Dam reached 522.5 meters this year, and then, depending on the production, our current level is around 521.5 meters. With the rise in water level, there has been a significant increase in the 2024 production quantity. The energy produced until May 2023 was 660 million kilowatt-hours, while this year until May 2024, the energy produced is 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours.’ Aksoy emphasized that the dam’s fill rate has reached 90%, saying, ‘Likewise, when we look at our reservoir level in May 2023, we saw levels at 515. At that time, our fill rate was 75%, but now, although the production is high, our current reservoir level is 521.5. This 521.5 level is, as known, our operating level in the dam is 525. Currently, we are 3.5-4 meters below our operating level. We currently have about 9.5 billion cubic meters of water in our dam. Our fill rate has reached around 90%.’ The dam contributed 31 billion TL to the country’s economy. Aksoy, recalling that the dam was inaugurated and put into operation by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 19, 2020, stated that the energy production reached 9.8 billion kilowatt-hours since the start of production on May 19, 2020. Stating that the energy produced has contributed 31 billion TL to the country’s economy, Aksoy said, ‘As of May this year, the amount of energy we produced is 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours. Thus, the energy produced has exceeded 9.8 billion kilowatt-hours in previous periods. In return, over 31 billion TL of contribution has been made to our country’s economy.’