Statkraft to build its third hydropower plant in Turkey

Statkraft will build its largest hydropower plant outside Norway at Cetin, Turkey. The new EUR500m plant will have an installed capacity of 517MW and have an average annual output of 1.4TWh.

The project, located on the Botan River in the southeast of the country, is planned as two dams and two power stations. Cetin Main will have an installed capacity of 401MW and a significant reservoir. Further downstream, 116MW will be installed in the Cetin Lower plant.

The civil works will be conducted by a joint venture between the two Turkish constructors Yuksel and Ilci. The Austrian company Andritz Hydro is nominated as contractor for electro-mechanical equipment.

“Cetin will considerably increase Statkraft’s capacity in Turkey, in line with our strategy to become a significant generator of flexible hydropower in Turkey. Cetin is a sustainable project, providing Turkey and Europe with more pure energy while creating jobs and local development,” said EVP International hydropower in Statkraft, Øistein Andresen. The company’s first hydropower plant in Turkey, the 20MW Cakit unit, started commercial operation in June 2010 while the 102MW Kargi plant is currently under construction and expected to come online by the end of 2013. Upon completion of Cetin in 2015, Statkraft will own a total capacity of 639MW and generate around 2TWh annually in Turkey.

Turkey’s annual power demand is forecast to expand from 200TWh to 400TWh by 2020. Hydropower current accounts for around 20% of electricity demand and the country has considerable potential for further development in the sector.