While stating that it is of great importance to bring Euphrates water to the OIZ so that industrial facilities do not experience supply problems in the future, OIZ President Cengiz Şimşek said, “Dreams have come true in Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone. A 50 MW capacity GES will be installed for the supplies coming from 55 kilometers away with a 1,300 mm diameter PE coated steel pipe. It is planned to channel the water connected from Birecik Dam with a 5-stage pumping system and a transmission line of approximately 55 kilometers long steel pipe type with a nominal diameter of 1200 millimeters, which will meet the 120 thousand cubic meters of daily water demand of the rapidly developing and growing Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone.’’
The Project Will Meet the 50-Year Water Demand of the OIZ
Şimşek, who stated that channeling the water of the Euphrates River to the OIZ is of vital importance for the OIZ as well as for Gaziantep, said, “With the implementation of the project, our underground resources will be protected and our industrial facilities will be in operation uninterruptedly, and with high-quality and cheaper supplies. With an investment of 2 billion TL, the water of the Euphrates River will be channeled to the Gaziantep Organized Zone from a distance of 55 kilometers. We foresee the project delivery as the end of 2024. With this project, we aim to increase our city exports by 20 percent.
Yarn and Fabric Dyeing Capacities Will Increase
With the project, we aim to solve the supply problem in the Gaziantep OIZ and increase competitiveness. With the completion of the Euphrates Water Project, we aim to increase textile investments significantly. Especially Yarn and Fabric Dyeing investments will be the sectors which may be benefited the most from this project."
We are Implementing the Project of the Millennia
While making a statement on the subject, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin stated that one of the biggest agenda’s in the world is climate change and water management brought about by global warming and shared concerns with the following: "Water is a scarcity in the world and its management is one of the biggest obstacles triggered by evaporation. As Gaziantep, we are implementing the 100-year-old project of the century with the vision and perspective of our industrialists. It was widely outspoken that we are not capable of carrying water from Euphrates. This team has successfully dealt with this issue and will mark their name in history. While bringing supplies from an altitude of 400 to 800, water will be brought by very large steel pipes of 55 kilometers. Overall, it was an important project. We discussed with OIZ and projected our work. 43 kilometers of it is a very good job, 90 percent of it is now completed. 50 MW of solar energy is needed for this. When 50 MW of solar energy comes, the pumping cost will be reduced due to the altitude and when our industry access the water from the Euphrates which is completely uninterrupted and independent, we as Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality will be more comfortable in water management. When the industry manages water within its own capability, we will be able to use up our own resources as the city. We get along very well with each other with the municipality of Turkey Century and we are progressing rapidly. May the water coming from the Euphrates be beneficial to our industrialists."
