Keban Dam

Keban Dam is one of the most significant engineering structures in Türkiye’s energy and water management history, located on the Euphrates River in the Elazığ province of Türkiye.

Keban Dam (State Hydraulic Works)

Construction Process and Technical Features

Construction of Keban Dam began in 1965 and was completed in approximately ten years despite challenging foundation conditions, becoming operational on 9 September 1974. The dam is a composite structure with a base height of 211 metres, consisting of rockfill and concrete gravity sections. Its crest length measures 1125.72 metres. The reservoir it forms, Keban Dam Lake, covers an area of 675 square kilometres with a water volume of approximately 31 billion cubic metres, earning it the title of “Türkiye’s largest artificial lake.” The lake extends 125 kilometres from east to west and widens up to 18 kilometres in some sections.

The hydroelectric power plant has an installed capacity of 1330 MW. The first four units were commissioned in 1974, and the remaining four units came online in 1981. In 1982, when the plant reached full capacity, it generated 8.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, meeting approximately 31% of Türkiye’s total annual electricity demand on its own. At the time of its commissioning, Keban HES was Türkiye’s largest hydroelectric power plant and remains the country’s third largest today. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the facility has contributed approximately 744 billion Turkish liras to Türkiye’s national economy through the generation of 283 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to date.

One of the dam’s key structures is the spillway, which is 124 metres wide and capable of discharging up to 17,000 cubic metres of water per second. The diversion tunnels used during construction to redirect the Euphrates River’s flow and control water within the dam body are also critical engineering components of the project.

Economic and Social Contributions

Keban Dam and its hydroelectric power plant have not only secured Türkiye’s energy supply but also delivered a range of regional and national benefits:

• Energy Production: Played a vital role in Türkiye’s industrialization and in meeting overall electricity demand.
• Pioneering the GAP: With the capacity to control 70% of the Euphrates River’s catchment area in Türkiye, the dam has played a critical role in ensuring consistent water supply for other dams under the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), guaranteeing the feasibility of the entire GAP initiative.
• Water Management: Regulates the flow regime of the Euphrates River, contributing to flood control.
• Regional Development: Has significantly contributed to the social and economic development of Elazığ and surrounding provinces, creating new economic activities such as fishing, transportation, recreation, and tourism. Social infrastructure including ferry services and fish restaurants has developed around the lake.
• Renewable Energy Integration: Keban Dam Lake hosts the Kuzova Floating Solar Power Plant (FSP) R&D Project, Türkiye’s first floating solar energy project. This approximately 1 MW capacity project complements hydroelectric generation with solar energy production. Another floating solar power plant project, included in the 2024 investment program, will also be constructed on the lake.