WASHINGTON GROUP International of the US will lead a consortium to provide geotechnical exploration, engineering and design for the US$6.9M phase I of the Hakkari dam and hydroelectric power plant in Turkey. The Turkish State Hydraulic Works recently awarded the contract.
At a total estimated cost of US$600M, the Hakkari project will be built on the Zap river in the Southeast Anatolia region of Turkey. The project includes a 170m high rockfill dam, an 11km long tunnel and a 208MW hydroelectric power station.
The Washington Group-led consortium includes equipment supplier alstom Power, Turkish engineering firm DOLSAR and Turkish constructor KiSKA. The consortium will also be responsible for the construction phase of the project under a separate contract to be awarded following completion of phase I in mid 2002.
US and Turkish officials signed the initial contract for the Hakkari project on 16 November 1999. The project was awarded under the umbrella of the American-Turkish Joint Statement signed by US and Turkish officials in February 1998.
Previously, Washington Group designed and constructed the 620MW Keban hydroelectric project in eastern Turkey, and also designed the 300MW Gokcekaya project on the Sakarya river.