China has greenlit the construction of a monumental hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which is set to generate three times more electricity than the world-renowned Three Gorges Dam, according to Xinhua News Agency. With an estimated investment exceeding 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion), this project could become the largest single infrastructure venture globally.
The Yarlung Tsangpo, Tibet’s longest river, descends through the world’s deepest canyon with a vertical drop of 7,667 meters (25,154 feet) before flowing into India as the Brahmaputra River. The planned hydropower station, located in one of mainland China‘s rainiest areas, is expected to produce approximately 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, enough to power over 300 million people. In comparison, the Three Gorges Dam generates 88.2 billion kWh.
The site’s topography poses significant engineering challenges, including drilling up to six 20-kilometer tunnels through the Namcha Barwa mountain to redirect half the river’s flow—about 2,000 cubic meters per second. Additionally, the area is geologically complex, lying on a tectonic plate boundary prone to earthquakes.
Xinhua emphasized the project’s focus on ecological protection and its role in advancing China’s green energy goals, including carbon neutrality and climate change mitigation. The dam is also expected to spur the development of nearby solar and wind energy resources, creating a comprehensive clean energy base.
Although the project’s exact location and construction timeline remain undisclosed, its completion would mark a major step in China’s transition to low-carbon energy.
