China has approved the construction of what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower dam, initiating a monumental project on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau that could significantly impact millions of people downstream in India and Bangladesh.
The dam, planned for the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, is projected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This output would more than triple the 88.2 billion kWh capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the largest hydropower facility in the world, located in central China.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, the project is a key component of China’s efforts to achieve its carbon peaking and neutrality goals. It is also expected to stimulate industries such as engineering, create employment opportunities in Tibet, and contribute significantly to the region’s economic development.
The Yarlung Zangbo River descends a dramatic 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) over a span of just 50 kilometers (31 miles), offering immense hydropower potential alongside unique engineering challenges.
The construction costs, including engineering expenses, are anticipated to surpass those of the Three Gorges Dam, which required an investment of 254.2 billion yuan (USD 34.83 billion). This previous project involved the resettlement of 1.4 million people and exceeded its initial cost estimate of 57 billion yuan more than fourfold. However, authorities have yet to disclose details on how many people might be displaced by the new Tibet project or the impact it may have on the local ecosystem, which is among the richest and most diverse on the plateau.
Chinese officials assert that hydropower developments in Tibet, which they claim hold more than a third of the country’s total hydroelectric power potential, will not significantly affect the environment or downstream water supplies.
Despite these assurances, neighboring countries India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns. The project has the potential to alter the local ecology and affect the flow and course of the river downstream. The Yarlung Zangbo transitions into the Brahmaputra River as it exits Tibet, flowing through India’s Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states before reaching Bangladesh.
China has already begun generating hydropower on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and is planning additional upstream projects. The latest development underscores Beijing’s ambitious plans to harness Tibet’s hydropower resources, further raising tensions in a region of immense geopolitical and environmental sensitivity.
