China's Approval of Largest Hydropower Dam

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has approved the construction of the world's largest hydropower dam on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau, impacting millions downstream in India and Bangladesh.

The dam, located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, is estimated to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, according to the Power Construction Corp of China.

This output would more than triple the capacity of the current largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam, which produces 88.2 billion kWh.

The project aims to support China's carbon peaking and neutrality goals, stimulate engineering-related industries, and create jobs in Tibet, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

With a section of the Yarlung Zangbo falling dramatically 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) over just 50 km (31 miles), the project presents significant hydropower potential alongside unique engineering challenges.

Construction costs are expected to exceed those of the Three Gorges Dam, which cost around 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion), including the resettlement of 1.4 million displaced people, significantly higher than the initial estimate of 57 billion yuan.

Authorities have yet to disclose how many people will be displaced by this Tibet project and its effects on the local ecosystem, which is known for its biodiversity.

Chinese officials claim that Tibet's hydropower projects, which are thought to hold over a third of China's hydroelectric potential, will not significantly impact the environment or downstream water supplies.

Nevertheless, India and Bangladesh have voiced concerns, fearing the dam could alter local ecology and river flow downstream.

The Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra River as it exits Tibet, flowing through India's Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states before reaching Bangladesh.

China has already begun hydropower generation on the upper stretches of the Yarlung Zangbo and plans further projects upstream.

($1 = 7.2989 Chinese yuan renminbi)