China reveals plan to build the world's largest hydropower project on Brahmaputra river

China plans to build a major hydropower project on Brahmaputra river in Tibet and a proposal for this has been clearly put forward in 14th Five-Year Plan to be implemented from next year, an official mouthpiece on Sunday quoted he of Chinese company tasked to build dam as saying.

Yan Zhiyong, chairman of Power Construction Corp of China or POWERCHINA, said China will "implement hydropower exploitation in downstream of Yarlung Zangbo River ( Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) and project could serve to maintain water resources and domestic security," Global Times reported.

'Historic opportunity for Chinese hydropower industry'

Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Yan said project was clearly put forward in proposals for formulating country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and its long-term goals through 2035 me by Central Committee of ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), report quoted an article on WeChat account of Central Committee of Communist Youth League of China on Sunday.

"re is no parallel in history... it will be a historic opportunity for Chinese hydropower industry," Yan told conference organised to celebrate 40th anniversary of founding of China Society for Hydropower Engineering. 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives Through Year 2035 were opted by Plenum - a key policy body of CPC - last month. Details of plan were expected to be released after formal ratification by National People's Congress (NPC) early next year.

Indian government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to Chinese authorities and has urged m to ensure that interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. China has alrey operationalised USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, largest in Tibet, in 2015.

'It's a project for national security'

About new dam, Global Times report said that speculation about China planning to build a "super hydropower station" in Medog county, where Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is located, have circulated for years. Medog is last county in Tibet which borders Arunachal Presh.

In his dress, Yan said that hydropower exploitation of Yarlung Zangbo River downstream is more than a hydropower project. It is also meaningful for environment, national security, living standards, energy and international cooperation.

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According to report, mainstream of Yarlung Zangbo River has richest water resources in Tibet Autonomous Region, about 80 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), while 50-kilometre section of Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has 70 million kWh that could be developed with a 2,000-meter drop, which equals more than three Three Gorges power stations in Hubei province - world's largest hydropower project by far.

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Tibet has about 200 million kWh of water resources, accounting for 30% of total in China. " 60 million kWh hydropower exploitation at downstream of Yarlung Zangbo River could provide 300 billion kWh of clean, renewable and zero-carbon electricity annually. project will play a significant role in realising China's goal of reaching a carbon emissions peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060," he said.

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"It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," he said, noting that project will also smooth cooperation with South Asia. hydropower station could generate income of 20 billion yuan (USD three billion) annually for Tibet Autonomous Region, he said.

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(With PTI inputs)