Frequently asked Questions and Answers




F: Why is Turkey so eager to build this power plant?
A: Turkey has an annual increase in power demand between six and eight per cent. The alternatives to supply that huge demand are either the use of hydro power on the one hand or the construction of thermal- and nuclear power stations on the other hand. The current per-capita consumption amounts to about 20 per cent of the OECD average.

F: What are the dimensions of the power plant?
A: The planned output of the power plant is 1,200 MW. The production of 3,830 GWh of electricity per year is sufficient for approx. two million households. The hydro power plant Ilisu avoids approx. 3 million tons of CO2-emissions per year in comparison to generation of electricity by coal-fired power stations.
 
F:  Which other positive effects are credited with the power station?
A: An improvement of the potable water supply for the population and the accessibility to water in the steppe landscape. In general an improvement of infrastructure, roads (upgrades and new construction) as well as bridges and municipal facilities. Furthermore additional jobs are created by the operation of the power station, which serve as an impulse for a further regional development.

F: What was achieved in terms of water situation and water quality?
A: In parallel to the construction of Ilisu the first sewage-treatment plants are built in Dijarbakir, Batman, Siirt and Bismil. In addition a substantial improvement of the minimum water discharge is reached during the dry months from 60 m³/s to 100 m³/s. Actually low sedimentation in Tigris river should not lead to problems in the tail water area (e.g. erosion)

F: What is undertaken to save historical artifacts?
A:  Important artifacts at Hasankeyf such as citadels and mosques are outside of the storage area. Nevertheless a relocation of substantial relics will take place from Hasankeyf to the upper part of the city. Together with the consortium turkey will invest 100 million dollars for the relocation of the artefacts.
This excavation and protection of Hasankeyf means the rescue of this archaeological place, because it would - according to a EU-report - be otherwise destroyed to a large extent in only 10 years due to the use of antique materials as building materials by the local population.

F: It is often announced that 78,000 persons need to be resettled, is this figure correct and what are the current activities?
A: First of all it is to be considered that Turkey has adapted its legislation in this subject to a large extent to be OECD compliant. Also it is well-known that the Turkish authorities are prepared to solve the resettlement in the best possible way. Therefore a new RAP (Resettlement Action Plan) was ordered. This study is based on the IFC Handbook of World Bank and was performed during the year 2005.
The number of the concerned people is by far lower:
11,000 people will be affected directly by resettlement, 32,000 further indirectly, which means e.g. by loss of land. It is valid for all concerned – also for landless people – that they will be compensated for their losses whereby there are different ways of compensation to be selected. Further 11,500 people who do not live any more in the region are also entitled for compensation, compensating these is expected not to be problematic.

F: Who was assigned to prepare the of EIAR (Environmental Impact Assessment Report) and  RAP (Resettlement Action Plan)?
A: The EIAR was established by the Swiss company Hydro Concepts Engineering, the RAP by the Turkish company ENCON.

F: Which standards are followed with regard to hydro-electric power plants (and also with Ilisu plant)?
A: The most important standards are those, which are demanded also by the financing institutions and the export credit agencies which means: the generally recognized international standards.

With regard to the Environmental Impact Assessment report: 

• The standards of OECD and World Bank are mandatory and will be followed, furthermore the respective Turkish laws.
• Further standards and Guidelines as reference:
  - European Commission 2001 "Guidance on EIA Review/Screening"
  - Convention on Law for Non Navigational Use of International Watercourses
  - ICOLD Guidelines

With the Resettlement Action plan:
The basis for the RAP is the appliance of the World Bank rules. The RAP was prepared strictly in accordance with IFC Handbook. Furthermore the changes of the relevant Turkish laws are considered.

F: What were the most important milestones during the preparation of the RAP?
A: Following a public notice in the local newspapers, first, a Project Information Office was established in the province capital of Batman by end of March 2005. Subsequently the micro census (satellite data collection) was accomplished. Until Mid of June 2005 extensive and systematic interviews with approx. 8,500 households and focus groups were undertaken and all data thereafter analysed. Alternative settlement areas as well as the necessary infrastructure measures (roads, etc.) were evaluated and defined in close co-operation with the Turkish authorities.


F: Which are the controlling measures for adherence to the RAP?
A: The adherence to a RAP is the basis of each contract and its implementation is accepted by DSI and the Turkish Ministry of Energy. The documentation of the provisions is strictly observed by the financing institutions. Financing is in this respect an important means of control.

F: Will the Turkish government precisely realize the imposed conditions?
A: The Turkish government has committed itself completely. Also the resettling measures, which were accomplished with the power stations Borcka and Muratli between 1999 and 2005, were absolutely in accordance with the legal norms and took place without dissonance.