Hail spill tests were conducted at the Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant

An important test has been successfully completed at the Yusufeli Dam, which has been completed and has begun test energy production.

The Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant project, built on the Çoruh River in Artvin, is the highest arch dam in Turkey at 275 meters and the fifth highest in the world. The water level has been raised to the maximum level of 710 meters, indicating that the necessary tests for the dam to operate at full capacity have been successfully carried out.

When the gates were opened, the water cascading from a height of 275 meters created an impressive waterfall effect. This visual spectacle further demonstrated that the dam is an engineering marvel.

DSI General Director Mehmet Akif Balta participated in the full spillway tests and made statements to the press.

Balta stated that our country has made significant strides in domestic and renewable energy, just as it has in every field over the past 21 years, and emphasized that “we have made significant progress in hydroelectric energy production, which is one of the main sources.

The number of hydroelectric power plants, which was 125 in 2002, has increased to 750 as of today thanks to public-private partnerships, and our hydroelectric energy production capacity has been raised from 44 billion kilowatt-hours per year to 112 billion kilowatt-hours.” Balta added that “the Yusufeli Dam and HPP have a special place in this endeavor where water is converted into light. As the highest dam in our country, Yusufeli ranks fifth in the world among double-curvature concrete arch dams with its height of 275 meters. The Yusufeli Dam and HPP, a monumental work worthy of the Century of Turkey, has an installed capacity of 558 MW and an average annual energy production capacity of 1 billion 888 million kilowatt-hours. This production amount can meet the energy needs of 750,000 domestic and national vehicles, TOGG. Additionally, the dam will meet the energy needs of 2.5 million people. This esteemed facility will contribute approximately 6 billion TL to our economy annually with the energy it will produce. The Yusufeli Dam and HPP, ‘the golden necklace of the Çoruh River,’ will also increase the production capacities of the downstream Artvin, Deriner, Borçka, and Muratlı dams and reduce the flood risk that may occur in the Çoruh River,” he said.

Balta summarized the process that has been reached after the completion of the Yusufeli Dam as follows:

“On November 22, 2022, the filling of the Yusufeli Dam began, and wet tests for electricity production started on August 25, 2023.

On November 2, 2023, with the temporary acceptance of Unit-3 and the transfer of EÜAŞ, commercial production activities began at the Yusufeli Dam.

On December 12, 2023, the temporary acceptance of Unit-2 took place, and on March 7, 2024, the temporary acceptance and transfer of EÜAŞ for Unit-1 were completed, allowing the Yusufeli Dam to operate at full capacity.

All unit temporary acceptances have been completed in the electro-mechanical equipment works, and the EÜAŞ transfers have been finalized.

As of July 8, 2024, a total of 1,200,000,000 kWh of electricity has been produced at the Yusufeli Dam. Its contribution to the economy is currently 2.7 billion TL.

As of June 27, 2024, the dam reservoir has reached the maximum operating height of 710.00 m for the first time. Tests for the spillway gates of the Yusufeli Dam and the determination of the spillway discharge capacity have been conducted.

There are two types of spillway structures at the Yusufeli Dam.

For the first time, the top overflow spillways located on the dam body have been opened and tested.

The tunnel spillways were tested on May 11, 2024, and now they are being tested at the maximum water level (710 meters). This dam, which can be described as an ‘engineering marvel,’ will also stand as a monumental piece that shows what our people can achieve when they believe in something.”

With the statements of DSI General Director Mehmet Akif Balta, the spillway gates of the dam were opened, successfully completing their tests.