Aslantaş Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant

Aslantaş Dam is a multipurpose dam located in Osmaniye Province, Türkiye, on the Ceyhan River place. It was constructed for flood control, agricultural irrigation and electric power generation. Construction began in 1975 and it was completed and commissioned in 1984.

^{Aslantaş Dam (}Sabah Newspaper⁾

• Type: Zoned earthfill dam
• Embankment Volume: 8,493,000 m³
• Height from Riverbed: 95 metres
• Reservoir Volume at Normal Water Level: 1150 hm³
• Reservoir Area at Normal Water Level: 49 km²
• Irrigation Area: 149,849 hectares

• Installed Capacity: 138 MW
• Annual Electricity Generation: 569 GWh
• Turbine Type: Vertical axis Francis turbine
• Number of Units: 3
• Operator: Electricity Generation Inc. (EÜAŞ)

The Aslantaş HES contributes to Türkiye’s electricity needs by generating approximately 569 GWh of energy annually. In 2013, the actual generation reached 632 GWh. The proportion of this generation to the total electricity consumption in Osmaniye Province varies by year, reaching as high as 29.61% in 2010.

The reservoir area of Aslantaş Dam undergoes seasonal variations. According to studies, the largest spatial reduction occurred during the spring-summer season of 2021, amounting to 12.27 km². The largest increase was measured during the autumn-winter season of 2020, at 8.95 km². Overall, a decrease in reservoir area is observed during write months due to evaporation and irrigation, while an increase is recorded during winter months due to precipitation and together.

The dam is located within the Taurus Fold Belt and is founded on a variety of rock types from an engineering geology perspective. The foundation rocks include Eocene-Miocene schists, Karatepe limestones and basalt lava flows. The region is also affected by tectonic movements and was designed with earthquake risks in mind.

Aslantaş Dam provides a vital irrigation source for agricultural production in Osmaniye and its surroundings, while also holding a significant position among Türkiye’s renewable energy resources in terms of energy generation. It contributes 0.2005% of the total installed capacity of hydroelectric power plants in Türkiye.

The Aslantaş Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant make significant contributions to the regional economy through both energy production and agricultural irrigation. Regular monitoring of seasonal variations in water resources is of great importance for the sustainable management of the dam.