4 million cubic meters of concrete to be used for Turkey’s highest dam

Meltem Özgenç - ANKARA

Some 4 million cubic meters of concrete are planned to be used in the construction of the Yusufeli Dam, located in the Black Sea province of Artvin, which will become Turkey’s highest dam upon completion.

The amount of concrete to be used at the facility equals to the amount of material used in constructing 50,000 houses, Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroğlu has stated, commenting on the dam planned for the Çoruh River.

“Once it finishes, the Yusufeli Dam will be Turkey’s highest. With its height of 270 meters, it will be the third highest dam in the world within its own category, after the Xiowan Dam [292 m] in China and the Inguri Dam [272 m] in Georgia,” Eroğlu added.

“The total amount of concrete that will be used in the main frame is almost 4 million cubic meters. With this amount of concrete it is possible to build 2,500 five storey buildings, with four 150-square meter flats on each floor. When all the units are included, some 5 million cubic-meter concrete will be used at the Yusufeli Dam,” he said.

“We have constructed the Muratlı, Borçka, Deriner dams and hydroelectric power plant [HES] on the Çoruh River and put these projects into service for our people. Now we are putting a new necklace onto Turkey’s most wild running river,” said Eroğlu referring to the new dam.

The minister said the Yusufeli Dam will supply the electricity needs of 650,000 people once it goes into service.

The project, with its 540 megawatt power and 1,827,000,000 kilowatt-hour energy production per year, will contribute 450 million Turkish Liras every year to the country’s economy, he also claimed, adding that the project will pay for itself within seven years.