China has given the green light for the development of what is set to become the world's largest hydropower dam, launching an ambitious initiative on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau, reports Reuters.
The project, located on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, is expected to impact millions living downstream in countries like India and Bangladesh.
According to estimates from the Power Construction Corporation of China, the dam will have the capacity to generate approximately 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This would be more than three times the designed capacity of the current record-holder, the Three Gorges Dam in central China, which produces 88.2 billion kWh.
The project is expected to play a major role in China’s efforts to achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets, while also boosting associated industries such as engineering and creating employment opportunities in Tibet.
One of the key features of the site is a dramatic 2,000-meter (6,561-foot) drop within a stretch of just 50 kilometers (31 miles) along the Yarlung Zangbo River, offering immense hydropower potential. However, this also presents unique engineering challenges.
The estimated cost of constructing the dam, including engineering expenses, is expected to surpass that of the Three Gorges Dam. The latter cost 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion), a figure that included expenses related to the relocation of 1.4 million people and was significantly higher than its initial estimate of 57 billion yuan.
Details regarding the number of people who might be displaced by the new project in Tibet or its impact on the local environment remain unclear. The region’s ecosystem is considered one of the most biodiverse on the Tibetan plateau. However, Chinese officials have stated that hydropower projects in Tibet—which holds over a third of the country’s hydroelectric potential—are unlikely to have a substantial effect on the environment or downstream water flows.
Despite these assurances, neighboring countries India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns. The dam has the potential to disrupt local ecosystems and alter the flow and path of the river downstream. As the Yarlung Zangbo River leaves Tibet, it becomes the Brahmaputra River, flowing into India's Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states before reaching Bangladesh.
China has already initiated hydropower operations on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and is planning additional projects further upstream.
