Premier Li Qiang Breaks Ground on World’s Largest Dam
Chinese authorities have begun constructing what will be the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory
China has launched construction of a massive hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, aiming to build the world’s largest facility of its kind. The Motuo Hydropower Station, expected to cost 1.2 trillion yuan ($167 billion), will surpass the capacity of the current record-holder, the Three Gorges Dam, and produce up to three times more electricity.
The Yarlung Tsangpo flows through the Tibetan plateau before crossing into India, where it becomes the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers, and eventually enters Bangladesh as the Jamuna. This trans-boundary nature has raised alarm among neighbouring countries. Indian and Bangladeshi officials fear the dam could allow China to manipulate river flows, affecting millions who depend on these waters for agriculture, fisheries, and daily life.
Critics also highlight the potential for water to be released suddenly, posing a flooding risk downstream. Indian officials warn that such action could cause catastrophic damage to regions like Arunachal Pradesh, endangering communities such as the Adi tribe. In response, India is planning a dam of its own on the Siang to help buffer sudden water surges.
China defends the project, stating it has the sovereign right to manage rivers within its borders and has considered environmental and downstream impacts. Official reports say five cascading power stations will be built using water diverted through long tunnels carved through the Namcha Barwa mountain, an area known as “the Great Bend” due to the river’s dramatic U-turn and steep drop in elevation.
Power from the dam will mostly be exported to eastern China under the “xidiandongsong” policy, which focuses on transferring electricity from the rural west to industrial hubs in the east. While Beijing claims the project will improve rural prosperity and provide clean energy, rights groups argue it is yet another example of exploitation in Tibet. Prior protests against similar projects have been met with force, including mass arrests and beatings.
Environmentalists are also concerned about the impact on ecosystems in the region’s deep valleys, which host rich biodiversity and lie along active fault lines.
As tensions grow, both India and Bangladesh have formally expressed concern and requested greater transparency. However, Beijing has shown little indication of halting or significantly altering its plans.
Source: BBC
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