Residents Concerned - China to Build the World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has announced the start of construction for the world's largest hydroelectric power station at the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. The expected cost of the project will be at least 170 billion dollars.This was reported by Reuters.

Project Details

The dam, consisting of five cascade hydroelectric power stations with an annual capacity of 300 billion kilowatt-hours, will be located downstream of the Yarlung Tsangbo River. The section of the river has a height difference of 2,000 meters over a distance of 50 km, providing enormous hydroelectric potential.Beijing believes that the dam will help meet the demand for electricity in Tibet and other regions of China without significantly affecting the water supply downstream and the environment. The dam is scheduled to come into operation in the 2030s.

Why Neighboring Countries Are Concerned About the Project

India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns about the potential impact on millions of people living downstream, while NGOs warn of the risks to one of the richest and most diverse natural habitats on the plateau. Authorities have not specified how many people will be displaced as a result of the Yarlung Tsangbo project.The Yarlung Tsangbo River, starting in Tibet and flowing south into India and finally Bangladesh, turns into the Brahmaputra River. According to non-governmental organizations, the construction of the dam will cause irreparable damage to the Tibetan plateau and affect millions of people living downstream.The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, stated earlier this year that such a huge dam, located only 50 km from the border, could dry up 80% of the river flowing through the Indian state, as well as potentially flood areas of Arunachal and the neighboring state of Assam located downstream. Some experts also express concerns about the implementation of the project in a seismically active zone.

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has begun construction of a giant hydroelectric power station in Tibet, raising concerns in India and Bangladesh about its potential negative impact on the environment and the people living downstream of the Yarlung Tsangbo River. The construction of the station also raises issues of environmental preservation and regional stability.