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Dam Number Two Flicking through the back of a Trade and Industry Select Committee report, as he does, Mark noticed an interesting letter from another UK construction company, AMEC plc, to the Chairman of the Committee. In it, AMEC said that they were part of a consortium bidding to build another dam in Turkey, this time in the north east region with a minority Georgian population. This dam, on the Coruh river, will flood the town of Yusufeli and displace up to 30,000 people. AMEC were also seeking ECGD insurance for their Turkish venture.
"We are seeking ECGD Buyer Credit support for up to £68 million" A quick check with the Georgians confirmed Mark’s suspicions. Once again, there had been no consultation by the Turkish state, either of the minority population who would need to be resettled, or of the Georgians across the border who will be adversely affected by the reduced downstream flow of the river and the potentially devastating flooding problems that a lack of silt can cause.
"Turkey is obliged to inform Georgia about common discussion of Environmental Impact Assessment Georgian side were not informed about construction of Yusufeli dam" Mark and his cohorts had themselves a new campaign. They started marshalling their troops, buying up shares in AMEC and readying themselves for the company’s Annual General Meeting (coming up soon on 8 May – read the AMEC page for details. Mark even managed to arrange a meeting with the Chief Executive, Peter Mason. Then, suddenly, AMEC announced that they were pulling out of the consortium…
"Following a commercial review of the project's progress to date... AMEC has concluded that its resources would be better deployed in other areas..." Mark’s happy half said hurrah. His suspicious half said “what’s going on, that was too easy”. He phoned AMEC. Is my meeting with the Chief Executive still on? It was. He went to meet Peter Mason, who had some interesting things to say...
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