The dam was initially proposed in 2020, nearly 15 years after the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, which currently holds the title of the world’s largest dam.
Located on the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dam is said to produce 0.54 Twh of electricity daily and can process inflows of approximately 98.8 million liters per second.
The new dam will be constructed in the lower stretch of the Yarlung Zangbo River and is projected to generate thrice the electricity.
Based on a 2020 assessment by Power Construction Corp of China, the upcoming hydroelectric dam could yield 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year.
According to Chinese state media, the undertaking is a ‘safe project prioritising ecological protection,’ as reported by the BBC.
Despite its significant expense, the dam is anticipated to aid Beijing in achieving its ‘climate neutrality goals’.
The costly Yarlung Zangbo dam project is plagued by several challenges.
The venture might necessitate drilling at least four 20 km-long tunnels through the Namcha Barwa mountain, leading to the diversion of the Tibetan river’s flow.
This diversion could pose significant risks for neighboring nations such as India and Bangladesh, as it might cause flash floods or even result in droughts.
Experts are also concerned that the dam could ‘empower China to control or divert the flow’ of the 1,125 km-long Yarlung Tsangpo River.
A 2020 report from the Lowy Institute indicated that ‘control over these rivers [in the Tibetan Plateau] effectively gives China a chokehold on India’s economy’.
Moreover, the dam’s location along a tectonic plate boundary that is vulnerable to earthquakes raises concerns. Researchers fear that drilling into the Namcha Barwa mountain and ongoing construction may lead to more frequent landslides.
The project could also result in the displacement of local communities, although the exact number of people affected is not yet known.
However, Chinese authorities have assured that the project would not significantly impact the environment.
If construction proceeds as planned, the dam is expected to take 35 years to complete, with a projected completion date in 2060.