Norwegian hydropower project under way in Turkey

Norwegian Prime Minster Jens Stoltenberg today met Turkish Minister of Energy Taner Yildiz. Following the meeting they addressed a ceremony at the site of Statkraft’s Kargi hydropower project by videolink. There, a foundation stone was being laid to mark the start of the construction work.

When the hydropower plant is completed in 2013, it will deliver clean, renewable energy equivalent to the consumption of 150 000 households (470 GWh).

“Turkey’s economic growth and rising population create a great demand for energy, making Turkey one of the world's fastest growing energy markets. The combination of many new hydropower projects and a deregulated energy market makes Turkey a prime location for Norwegian companies operating in the international energy market,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

The Kargi plant will be Statkraft’s second hydropower plant in Turkey. Statkraft is already operating a hydropower plant in Cakit, in the south of  the country, and has recently started building a third plant, Cetin, in the south-east. When completed, the three power plants will together produce almost 2 TWh annually.