China Plans World’s Largest Hydropower Dam

China has approved the construction of a hydropower dam in Tibet that is set to be the largest of its kind in the world once complete. The 300 billion kWh dam will run along 31 miles of the Yarlung Zangbo River, close to the Indian border, but the plans have raised concerns in the region about the environmental impact. Newsweek contacted the Power Construction Corp of China for comment on this story via email. Why It Matters China has set itself ambitious carbon neutrality goals, by aiming to be completely carbon neutral by 2060. This is despite it being one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide globally. The Yarlung Zangbo dam will help produce huge amounts of green power using hydroelectricity, bringing China one step closer to these goals. However, it may result in diplomatic tensions with its neighbour India if downstream communities are not protected. What To Know The project is poised to triple the energy output of the current largest dam in the world, the Three Gorges Dam, which is also in China. The construction of the Three Gorges cost 254.2 billion yuan (around $34 billion) a price tag the new dam is expected to exceed. A significant amount of the money was used to relocate 1.4 million people the dam displaced, and there are international concerns that the new project could have similar ramifications downstream. The Three Gorges Dam on 20th August, 2020 in Yichang,Hubei,China. This is currently the largest hydropower dam in the world, but China has plans to change that in the future. The Three Gorges Dam on 20th August, 2020 in Yichang,Hubei,China. This is currently the largest hydropower dam in the world, but China has plans to change that in the future. Getty Images Neighboring countries, notably India and Bangladesh, have expressed unease over the dam’s potential impact on downstream water supplies. The Yarlung Tsangpo River flows into India as the Brahmaputra and into Bangladesh as the Jamuna, serving as a vital water source for millions. India has formally conveyed its concerns to China, emphasizing the need to safeguard the interests of downstream states, but Chinese state media has continued to praise the project as beneficial for citizens in Southeast Asia. According to Reuters, Chinese authorities have not yet provided any information on how many people the dam would displace and how it would affect the local environment in Tibet. What People Are Saying Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement: “The Chinese side has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas. We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests.” What Happens Next Construction on the dam will begin in 2025, and China has already begun additional infrastructure projects further up the Yarlung Zangbo. Officials have not yet published a detailed timeline for the project. Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.