Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Balfour beatty give up! ilisu dam campaigners celebrate triumph
13 November 2001
DAM DAMNED!
CAMPAIGNERS CELEBRATE ILISU DAM CAMPAIGN VICTORY
Campaigners responded with delight today to the news that Balfour Beatty have pulled out of involvement in the environmentally, politically and socially disastrous Ilisu Dam.
The Dam was planned for the Kurdish region of Turkey. It would make more than 30,000 local people homeless, often without proper compensation. It would drown dozens of towns and villages including the world historic site of Hasankeyf. And it would help control water flows on the Tigris river, threatening water conflicts with downstream states Syria and Iraq. The League of Arab States has condemned the project. The Dam was to be built by an international Swiss-led consortium. Balfour Beatty were seeking $200 million in export credit guarantees from the British Government. Italian builder Impregilo has also withdrawn from the consortium.
Commenting, FOE Director Charles Secrett said:
“This is a tremendous win for campaigners against a disastrous dam project. Balfour Beatty's very welcome decision to drop out of the project shows the power of shareholder pressure and publicity campaigns by groups like Friends of the Earth and the Ilisu Dam Campaign.
However, the Government has managed to avoid ever taking a clear decision on this scheme. That means that companies seeking future export credits can argue that no clear ethical precedent has been set. Balfour Beatty have helped Mr Blair slip off the hook.
The story of the Ilisu Dam project shows the need for laws which require British companies to adopt clear ethical and environmental standards in their work abroad as well as at home. Certainly, backing such as export credits should never even be considered in cases which involve such obvious environmental destruction and abuse of human rights.”
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
