Iraqi representatives criticized Turkey’s behavior, Friday, as it wriggled out of its commitment not to fill the Ilisu Dam on the Tigris River, stressing that operating the dam threatens Iraq's water security.
This came after the Turkish government announced hours before the start of operating the Ilisu dam on the Tigris River in the southeastern province of Mardin, as Iraq fears that it will affect the country's share of the region's water.
In a written statement, Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said the Ilisu Dam is expected to contribute 2.8 billion Turkish liras (366 million U.S. dollars) a year to the economy of the region.
With a total installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts, the dam will pay an average of 4,120 GWh of energy annually, according to the ministry.
Due to inadequate rainfall, Turkey is facing extreme drought and water shortages this year, and dams in several areas of the country are drying up at an unprecedented rate.
Pakdemirli stated that the dam began generating electricity at full capacity on Thursday.
The construction of the dam, which is the second-largest dam in the country in terms of filling volume, started in 2006, but following several setbacks, the first turbine only became operational in May this year.
It is noteworthy that the dam, which was approved by the Turkish government in 1997 in order to generate electricity for the region, caused the displacement of about 80 thousand people from 199 villages.
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