China launches world's largest hydroelectric dam project

(CLO) China has approved the construction of the world's largest hydroelectric dam, marking the start of an ambitious project in the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

The dam, which will be built downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River, will be capable of generating 300 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, according to estimates by the Power Construction Corporation of China in 2020. This is three times the designed capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the world's largest dam with a capacity of 88.2 billion kWh, in central China.

The project will play an important role in helping China achieve its carbon neutrality and emission reduction goals, while also boosting industries such as engineering and creating jobs in Tibet, the official Xinhua news agency said on December 25.

Three Gorges Dam. Photo: Wiki

A section of the Yarlung Zangbo River rises an impressive 2,000 meters over a 50-kilometer range, offering huge hydropower potential but also posing unique challenges. The dam’s construction costs, including engineering, are expected to surpass the 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion) cost of the Three Gorges Dam, including the relocation of some 1.4 million displaced people. That’s four times the original estimate of 57 billion yuan.

Officials say hydropower projects in Tibet, which is believed to hold more than a third of China's hydropower potential, will not have a major impact on the environment or downstream water supplies.

However, India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns about the project, as it could alter not only the local ecosystem but also affect the flow and direction of the river in downstream areas.

The Yarlung Zangbo River, when it leaves Tibet, becomes the Brahmaputra River, flowing into the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and finally into Bangladesh.

Ngoc Anh (according to Xinhua News Agency, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trung-quoc-khoi-dong-du-an-dap-thuy-dien-lon-nhat-the-gioi-post327640.html