China building world’s BIGGEST DAM in controversial $137bn megaproject – but it’s in a high-risk earthquake zone
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CHINA has given the greenlight to plans for the world's largest hydropower dam, despite protests from neighbouring countries. Millions could be without water as Tibet is set to become home to the world’s most ambitious individual infrastructure project.
![[Aerial view of the Yarlung Tsangpo River flowing through a valley with snow-capped mountains in the background.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NINTCHDBPICT000962607886.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The dam in the lower area of the Yarlung Zangbo River could generate three times more electricity than the current largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam in central China. According to a 2020 estimate by Power Construction Corp of China, it could produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
![[Aerial view of the Great Bend of the Yarlung Zangbo River, showing the Xiangguorong Bridge.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/the-Great-Bend.png?strip=all&w=960)
The Asian country’s latest project comes with a hefty price tag as the government has allocated £114 billion to the entire project. The Three Gorges Dam cost £29 billion in 2008 as it resettled 1.4 million people. Despite officials claiming the project will not significantly affect the environment or water supplies, it remains unclear how many people will lose their homes.
![[Three Gorges Dam in China releasing water.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/550-million-tonnes-standard-coal-957406926.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The stakes are also high for India and Bangladesh who are concerned about how the dam will alter the downstream water supply. India fears the project could trigger flash floods or create water droughts for the country. The Yarlung Zangbo becomes India's Arunachal Pradesh and Assam river before flowing into Bangladesh.
![[Aerial view of the Three Gorges Dam in China, releasing water.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/550-million-tonnes-standard-coal-957408089.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In July, a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, Ninong Ering, told parliament that China could not be trusted. He said: “We cannot trust our ‘neighbour’. You never know what they can do. “They can either divert the entire river flow, drying up our Siang or release water at once, causing unprecedented floods and havoc downstream.”.
![[Plan for world's largest dam in Tibet, China; expected to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and help China achieve net zero emissions by 2060. Comparison with Three Gorges Dam included.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TB_TIBET_DAM2_68a9ed.png?strip=all&w=677)
