China begins construction of US$167 billion mega dam

Aerial top down view of water discharge at hydroelectric power plant. Image: Adobe Stock

Chinese Premier Li Qiang launched construction of the hydropower project, which is around three times the size of the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest capacity hydroelectric power station and is also located in China. 

Li Qiang also revealed that the China Yajiang Group – a new company – will manage the dam’s development, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Approved in December last year, the massive hydropower complex will consist of five cascade power stations.

Once completed, the facility is expected to generate more than 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power over 300 million people.

The hydropower station will be constructed at a major gorge in the Himalayas. The location is sensitive due to its proximity to the India-China border and its placement along an active tectonic boundary known for seismic activity.

India’s foreign ministry has previously urged China to ensure that its upstream activities do not negatively affect the interests of downstream nations. In response, Beijing stated that the dam would not cause any “negative impact” and affirmed its commitment to ongoing communication.