NEW DELHI: China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam, stated as the planet's biggest, on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet near the Indian border.
Estimated to cost $137 billion, the mega infrastructure project has raised alarm in downstream countries, including India and Bangladesh, over potential impacts on water flow and regional stability.
According to state-run Xinhua news agency on Wednesday, the Chinese government has sanctioned the development of a hydropower facility on the lower section of the Yarlung Zangbo River, which is the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra.
The project's total investment might surpass one trillion yuan or $137 billion, exceeding any other infrastructure project globally, including China's Three Gorges Dam, currently considered the world's largest, as reported by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.
The dam is planned to be constructed at a massive gorge in the Himalayan region, where the Brahmaputra river makes a sharp U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh and flowing into Bangladesh.
India has raised concerns over the dam, as it not only empowers China to control the river’s water flow but also poses the risk of flooding border areas by releasing large volumes of water during potential hostilities due to its sheer size and scale, news agency PTI reported.
India is also constructing its own dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier in 2006, India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) to address various trans-border river matters, through which China provides India with hydrological data on the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers during flood seasons.
Data sharing discussions regarding trans-border rivers took place between Indian NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi during their Special Representatives meeting on December 18.
The ministry of external affairs indicated that the SRs "provided positive directions for cross-border cooperation and exchanges" including sharing data about trans-border rivers.
The Brahmaputra dam construction faces huge engineering difficulties due to its location on a tectonic plate boundary prone to earthquakes. The Tibetan plateau experiences frequent seismic activity owing to its position above tectonic plates.
The Brahmaputra flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving out the world's deepest canyon with an extraordinary vertical drop of 25,154 feet before entering India, the Post report added.
The dam's construction site is situated in mainland China's region with highest rainfall, ensuring substantial water flow.
Earlier on Wednesday, an official statement addressed earthquake concerns, asserting the hydropower project's safety and environmental protection measures.
The statement highlighted that extensive geological explorations and technological advancements have established a strong foundation for the project's science-based, secure, and high-quality development.
Earlier in 2020, Yan Zhiyong, former chairman of Power Construction Corporation of China, described the Yarlung Tsangpo location as exceptionally rich in hydropower potential.
"The lower reaches area features a vertical drop of 2,000 metres over a 50km distance, representing nearly 70 million kilowatts of resources that could be developed - that is more than three Three Gorges Dams with an installed capacity of 22.5 million kilowatts," the Post quoted.
A 2023 assessment indicates the hydropower facility will produce over 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, sufficient for 300 million people's yearly consumption.
To tap into the river’s hydropower potential, the project requires drilling four to six tunnels, each approximately 20 km long, through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the river’s flow, estimated at around 2,000 cubic meters per second, the report said, news agency PTI reported.
Yan emphasised that the hydropower development on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River is more than just an energy project. It holds significant implications for environmental protection, national security, living standards, energy needs, and fostering international cooperation.
"It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," he said, noting that the project will also smooth cooperation with South Asia. He indicated the hydropower station could generate 20 billion yuan ($3billion) yearly revenue for the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Comments