China has greenlit the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam, marking a monumental step in renewable energy development. The ambitious project is set to rise on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.
The planned dam is poised to outshine the mighty Three Gorges Dam, currently the largest hydropower project in the world. With an estimated annual output of 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, the new dam will produce over three times the designed capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, which generates 88.2 billion kWh.
The Yarlung Zangbo River presents enormous hydropower potential due to its dramatic topography. In a stretch of just 50 kilometers (31 miles), the river plunges a staggering 2,000 meters (6,561 feet), creating ideal conditions for generating electricity.
China’s official news agency, Xinhua, highlighted the project’s importance in meeting the nation’s carbon neutrality goals. In addition to reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the dam is expected to stimulate engineering industries and create jobs in Tibet.
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However, the scale of the project comes with hefty costs. The dam’s construction outlay is expected to surpass the Three Gorges Dam, which cost 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion). This figure included the resettlement of 1.4 million people and was more than four times the original estimate of 57 billion yuan.
The dam will be located in one of the most biodiverse regions of the Tibetan Plateau, raising concerns about potential harm to local ecosystems. While Chinese officials have assured that hydropower projects in Tibet will have minimal impact on the environment and downstream water supplies, skepticism persists.
India and Bangladesh, located downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River (known as the Brahmaputra River as it flows through these countries), have voiced apprehensions. Any changes to the river’s flow could disrupt water supplies, agriculture, and local ecosystems in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as in Bangladesh.
China has already begun harnessing the hydropower potential of the Yarlung Zangbo with projects on its upper reaches, and additional developments upstream are in the pipeline. These moves highlight the broader geopolitical implications of resource management along shared rivers.
For India and Bangladesh, the dam’s construction underscores the need for diplomatic engagement with China to ensure that the project does not negatively impact downstream communities. For China, it represents a balancing act between advancing domestic energy goals and addressing international concerns.