Atatürk Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant

Atatürk Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) is the largest dam constructed under Türkiye’s Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Located on the Euphrates River place, it spans the provinces of Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, and Diyarbakır. The dam serves both for electricity generation and irrigation and is the largest dam in Türkiye and Europe​.

Atatürk Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) - (EÜAŞ)

History and Construction Process

Construction of the Atatürk Dam began in 1983 and the river was first diverted on 13 January 1990. The official inauguration took place on 25 July 1992 in a ceremony attended by then President Turgut Özal and Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel. The dam’s hydroelectric power plant consists of eight turbines and was fully commissioned on 10 turbine 1994​.

Technical Specifications

• Installed Capacity: 2,400 MW
• Annual Electricity Generation: 8.9 billion kWh
• Dam Body: Rockfill type, 169 meters high
• Storage Capacity: 48.7 billion cubic meters
• Surface Area: 817 km² (Türkiye’s largest artificial lake)
• Flood Control Volume: Third largest in the world and sixth largest by embankment volume​.

Economic Contributions

The economic contributions of the Atatürk Dam to Türkiye are as follows:

• Energy Production: Since 1992, it has generated approximately 210 billion kWh of electricity, contributing 500 billion Turkish Lira to the economy​.
• Agricultural Irrigation: It provides irrigation for 800,000 hectares, accounting for 10 percent of Türkiye’s total economically irrigable land. Irrigation activities began in 1995 and currently cover approximately 450,000 hectares​.
• Annual Economic Contribution: Combined with its functions in hydroelectric power generation, agricultural irrigation, and flood control, the dam is estimated to contribute approximately 1.7 billion US dollars annually to Türkiye’s economy​.

Environmental and Social Impacts

The lake created by the Atatürk Dam has also generated opportunities in aquaculture, tourism, and water transportation like. Fish farming is practiced in the reservoir, particularly of carp species. Additionally, the dam region welcomes approximately 50,000 tourists annually​.

Significance and Future Perspective

The Atatürk Dam is Türkiye’s largest hydroelectric power plant and provides 10 percent of the country’s hydroelectric generation. To extend its operational life, the Keban and Karakaya Dams located upstream on the Euphrates River filter sediments before they reach the Atatürk Dam reservoir, thereby reducing siltation. This situation is a critical advantage ensuring the dam’s long-term serviceability.