The Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant, one of Türkiye's landmark engineering projects, generates an average of 1.82 billion kilowatt-hours (KWh) of electricity per year, enough to meet the annual energy needs of about 2.5 million people.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the facility, located on the Coruh River in Artvin's Yusufeli district, stands 275 meters high, making it the tallest concrete arch dam in Türkiye and Europe, and the fifth tallest of its kind worldwide.
Commissioned two years ago, Yusufeli Dam supplies power to about 650,000 households. This output accounts for 2.5% of Türkiye's total hydroelectric generation capacity.
Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said in a video message on X that Türkiye has undergone a "silent revolution" in renewable energy over the past 15 years, with hydropower playing a key role.
Renewable sources make up 60% of Türkiye's total installed electricity capacity, nearly half of which comes from hydropower, with around 33,000 megawatts (MW).
Bayraktar described Yusufeli Dam as a symbol of Türkiye's commitment to its renewable energy transition, adding: "We are building a domestic and sustainable energy infrastructure, with our hydroelectricity plants which have the largest share in our renewable energy capacity. We reduce dependence on imports, strengthen supply security, and move steadily toward our 2053 net-zero emissions goal."
Reporting by Basak Erkalan
Writing by Busra Ozaltan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr