The Ilisu Dam Project is one of the most contested infrastructure projects in the world. Export credit agencies (ECAs), companies and banks from five European countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy) provided equipment and funding for the dam, but ECAs and banks withdrew in July 2009.
Presumbably designed to bring development to the Southeast of Turkey, it entails the impoverishment of thousands of affected people, massive environmental destruction, the loss of invaluable cultural heritage, and an exacerbation of regional conflict. In an unprecedented step, on July 7th 2009, the German, Austrian and Swiss export credit agencies withdraw their guarantees on environmental and social grounds. This rendered the loans from Société Générale, UniCredit / Bank Austria and DekaBank void. The European companies involved, including Andritz, Alstom and Zueblin, however did not yet announce their withdrawal.

The ILISU DAM on the river Tigris is currently the largest hydroelectric power plant planned by the Turkish government. Its impact on the cultural heritage, nature, people and neighboring countries will be tremendous.

CULTURE The Ilisu project is situated in Mesopotamia, the “cradle of civilisation”, hosting traces of dozens of cultures. The 10000 year old town of Hasankeyf with its unique mergence of historic cultural heritage in line with nature as well as hundreds of yet unexplored archaeological sites would be flooded by its reservoir. However, Hasankyf deserves UNESCO word heritages Status.

NATURE The dam will destroy approx. 400 km2 of precious riverine habitat for many – partially endangered – species like the Euphrates soft shell turtle. The water quality of the reservoir is expected to be extremely low, leading to massive fish extermination, and threatening people’s health. Further downstream the decreased water flow will affect the Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq – one of the most important ecosystems worldwide.

PEOPLE Up to 78000 people will be affected by the project. Neither land for resettlement nor other income restoration measures have been set in place yet. These people face a future in extreme poverty, the loss of their livelihoods and history, and the disruption of their village and family structures. Participation by affected communities in the project planning, as stipulated by international standards, did not take place. Surveys show that 80 per cent of the affected population oppose the project.

TRANSBOUNDARY IMPACTS The change in water flows and the deterioration of water quality will be felt far downstream. The dam will give Turkey an additional instrument of power and may lead to unprecedented droughts in Iraq.
In violation of international law, the riparian countries were not consulted during the planning stage of the project. Although talks were initiated, no agreement has been reached.

CURRENT STATUS The Ilisu Dam Project has been initiated by the Turkish overnment through the Turkish Water Authority (DSI). Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) from  Germany, Austria and Switzerland approved guarantees for European deliveries to the project. The project has not been aligned with international standards, and does not comply with World Bank standards, e.g. no comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment exists to date. Instead, the ECAs attached 153 (weaker) conditions, relating to resettlement, environment, cultural heritage and the transboundary impacts.
However, a committee of experts installed to monitor the implementation of the conditions, revealed massive violations of them, which triggered the end of the guarantees on July 7th, 2009. Preparatory construction work and expropriations have been started, but construction of the actual dam has not commenced.