China has given the green light to the construction of what will become the world’s largest hydropower dam, marking a significant step in its ambitious energy development plans. The dam will be located on the Yarlung Zangbo River in the lower reaches of Tibet, an area with immense hydropower potential. This project could generate up to 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, more than tripling the output of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the largest in the world.
The new dam, which will have a substantial impact on meeting China’s carbon neutrality and carbon peaking goals, is expected to boost related industries and create thousands of jobs, particularly in Tibet. However, the scale of the project presents unique engineering challenges, especially given the dramatic landscape where a section of the river falls 2,000 meters in just 50 km. The construction cost is expected to exceed the Three Gorges Dam’s $34.83 billion price tag, which included significant resettlement efforts.
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Despite its economic potential, the project raises concerns in neighboring India and Bangladesh. Both countries worry that the dam could alter the flow of the Brahmaputra River, which originates from the Yarlung Zangbo, potentially disrupting water supplies and affecting local ecosystems. China, however, maintains that hydropower projects in Tibet, which hold over a third of China’s hydroelectric capacity, will not significantly impact the environment or downstream water resources.
Authorities have not disclosed how many people will be displaced by the Tibet dam or how it may affect the local ecosystem, which is rich and diverse. Nevertheless, China’s ongoing hydropower projects in Tibet, including several upstream initiatives, suggest that the region’s hydroelectric potential will play a crucial role in China’s future energy strategy.
