Official announcements from Chinese government or energy sector reports

China Approves World's Largest Hydropower Dam in Tibet, Project Estimated at $137 Billion, Generating 300 Billion kWh for 300 Million People

Dec 26, 2024, 02:40 PM

China has approved the construction of the world's largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, an ambitious project that could generate three times the power of the Three Gorges Dam. The dam is expected to produce approximately 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to meet the energy needs of over 300 million people, roughly equivalent to the entire U.S. population. The total investment for the project could exceed 1 trillion yuan (approximately $137 billion), making it the largest single infrastructure project globally. This development has raised concerns in neighboring countries, particularly India and Bangladesh, regarding potential impacts on water flow and local ecosystems. The dam's construction is poised to significantly affect millions downstream, with apprehensions about China's control over water resources in the region.