China has started construction of the largest hydropower dam in the world in Tibet.
According to Reuters, the premier of China, Li Qiang, announced that the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam has begun on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau.
As per the official news agency, Xinhua, report, the construction of the dam, which is part of China’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to boost renewable energy, would cost around $170 billion.
The premier suggested that special focus “must be placed on ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage."
The hydropower project that Li described as a “project of the century” will have five cascade hydropower stations.
It would have an estimated capacity of 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which would be enough to fulfil the energy demand of Tibet and the rest of China.
The dam construction on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River could also impact millions in India and Bangladesh.
Moreover, several NGOs, including the International Campaign for Tibet, have argued that the project would seriously damage the Tibetan plateau and would create livelihood disruptions for millions of people.
Meanwhile, Chinese officials have claimed that the projects would not affect downstream water supplies and local ecosystems.
