The Yusufeli Dam is an arch dam on the Çoruh River near Yusufeli in Artvin Province within the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The Yusufeli Dam will be the second largest dam within the larger Çoruh River Development Plan, which plans to build 13 dams, of which two are operational and another two are under construction. The dam's main purpose is hydroelectric power production and it will support a 540 MW power station. The dam is controversial because of its projected impact on the biodiversity within its reservoir area along with the relocation of the locals. On February 26, 2013, the foundation stone was laid in a ceremony attended by Minister of Forestry and Waterworks Veysel Eroğlu and Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik. It is expected that the construction of the dam will cost TRY487 million (approx. US$270 million). The dam's opening date was initially set to May 29, 2018. In 2018, the expected opening date was pushed back to 2021, and the dam became operational at the end of 2022. As of 2023, Yusufeli Dam is the highest dam in Turkey and the 9th tallest dam in the world.

History

The first studies on the Yusufeli Dam were carried out in the 1970s and it was included in the Coruh River Hydropower Development Master Plan in 1982. The feasibility report was completed in 1986 and the project was added to the national plan in 1997.

Design

Situated 70 km southwest of Artvin, the Yusufeli will be a double-curvature arch dam with a height of 270 m from its foundation and 223 m from the river's thalweg (lowest point of river bed). It will have a crest length of 490 m and crest width of 15 m while being composed of 2900000 m3 of concrete. The dam's crest will sit at an altitude of 715 m above sea level while the normal operating level of its reservoir will be 710 m, maximum will be 712 m and the minimum 670 m. The reservoir surface area of 33 km2 will have a total storage capacity of 2130000000 m3 and an active or "useful" storage of 1080000000 m3. The dam's spillway will be a service controlled chute type with a maximum discharge capacity of 8000 m3/s. The dam will have an underground power station that is 110 m long, 21.4 m wide and 45.2 m high. Within the power station will be 3 x 180 MW vertical shaft Francis turbines. Design activities will be carried out by Su-Yapi Engineering and Consulting Inc. Construction is to be carried out by a Limak Holding-Cengiz Holding-Kolin consortium.

Projected biological impacts

If built, Yusufeli Dam is expected to have significant biological impacts including: