China has begun construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric power station in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region in the southwest of the country, according to a statement on the website of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, BelTA reports.
“On the morning of July 19, a ceremony was held in the Tibet Autonomous Region to begin construction of a hydroelectric power facility in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang attended the ceremony and announced the official launch of the project,” the document says.
It is noted that the project envisages the construction of five cascade hydroelectric power stations “with a total investment of 1.2 trillion yuan (167.2 billion dollars).” The energy generated will primarily be supplied for external consumption, as well as to meet local demand in Tibet itself.
China Yajiang Group is carrying out the construction of the hydroelectric power facility, which will also be responsible for the operation of the station after its completion.
Chinese media outlets note that once completed, the facility could surpass in scale the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, the Sanxia (Three Gorges) Dam, which is located on the Yangtze River in Hubei Province in central China.
