The Project In comparison to Western European countries Turkey stands in terms of energy policy on a lower level, i.e. the Turkish per-capita consumption at present amounts only to 20 per cent of compared to Germany, Switzerland or Austria. The economic development and the associated growth at prosperity in the country come along with increase in energy demand. Realistic estimations consider between 6.4 and 7.9 per cent of increase each year. In order to satisfy the additional need it is since years the point in Turkey to define in which sources of electrical energy to invest.  Hydro-electric power plants and in particular the Ilisu project offer a clean alternative to nuclear or coal-fired power stations. The project guarantees that the balance between power stations which are operated with fossil fuels and hydro-electric power plants in Turkey is continued to be kept. At present the energy generation from hydro power amounts to 25% in the country. This rate however decreases in favour of fossil sources. The construction of Ilisu will ensure that Turkey is less dependent on oil imports from foreign countries. The power station will generate 1,200 Megawatts renewable and clean energy. Coal-fired power plants with corresponding power output would produce 3,000,000 tons of CO2 greenhouse gases each year. The generation of electricity is thus comparable with the one of a large nuclear power plant or with two power stations operated with fossil fuels. Altogether six Francis turbines will be propelled by the Tigris water and ensure energy production any time in line with demand.  Ilisu becomes thereby a factor of stability for the complete Turkish electricity grid. The power station will generate about three per cent of the countries' energy production. As a consequence the dimensions of the project are remarkable: the dam will be 135 metres high and 1,820 metres long, the reservoir contains 10,400 million cubic metres. The project at the river Tigris is part of a larger development plan. Altogether 22 dams and 19 power plants will be built in South East Anatolia.  The program for this development dates back to the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey Kemal Atatürk and the Turkish government passed the resolution in 1991 as national priority. By this means the eight South East Anatolia provinces should be approached to the standards of the western part of Turkey. Ilisu is the largest dam project to be built representing approximately ten to twenty per cent of the project volume in the region. A consortium consisting of the companies VA Tech Hydro and Alstom as  suppliers of the electromechanical equipment, the construction companies Nurol, Cengiz, Celiker as well as Zueblin and the engineering companies Stucky and Temelsu strives towards the project. On owner's side a consulting-engineers consortium consisting of the companies Colenco, Maggia, Dolsar and Rast has been set up. The investment volume amounts to 1.1 billion euro, construction will start after conclusion of the approval procedures and shall be commissioned by 2012/13.