Islamabad, Dec 28: China has approved plans to build the largest hydropower dam globally, situated on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. The dam is projected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, surpassing the output of the Three Gorges Dam, the current world leader, by more than threefold.
The project is a critical step toward China’s carbon emissions reduction goals and will stimulate industries related to construction and engineering while creating jobs in Tibet. Beijing has committed over 1 trillion yuan (approximately $137 billion) to this infrastructure initiative, making it the largest of its kind worldwide.
However, neighboring countries India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns about the dam’s potential impact on downstream communities and ecosystems. Chinese officials, however, maintain that the project will not significantly harm the environment or affect water supplies in downstream areas.