China Begins Construction of World’s Largest Hydropower Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra).
International
On 19 July 2025, Chinese Premier Li Qiang inaugurated construction of an unprecedented hydroelectric project—the Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo) Hydropower Project—in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region, near the disputed Indian border region of Arunachal Pradesh. This monumental venture is slated to become the largest dam in the world and marks a turning point in China’s renewable energy drive.
- China is investing approximately 1.2 trillion yuan (around USD 170 billion) into the project, which spans five cascade hydroelectric stations along a 50 km stretch of steep gorge—where the Yarlung Tsangpo drops nearly 2,000 meters. Once operational by the early 2030s, it will generate around 300 billion kWh annually, tripling the output of the Three Gorges Dam.
- India and Bangladesh, both downstream nations, have expressed alarm. With millions dependent on the Brahmaputra’s waters for drinking, irrigation, and ecosystems, Delhi has repeatedly raised concerns about potential disruptions to seasonal flow, sediment transport, and flood patterns. Experts warn that the dam could be used strategically during conflicts to manipulate downstream water flows.
- Environmental and seismic risks add to the controversy. The canyon is one of Earth's deepest and most biodiverse, situated in an active seismic zone. Resettlement of indigenous Tibetan communities and habitat loss has already triggered local protests and harsh government crackdowns. Critics warn of irreversible impact to fragile ecosystems.
Main Point :- (i) China has defended the project, describing it as a “run-of-the-river” design with minimal storage and asserting it has undergone rigorous environmental and geological assessment. Officials claim downstream water levels will be unaffected and assert the project supports disaster prevention, climate goals, and local economic development.
(ii) Meanwhile, India is evaluating its own hydropower responses, including plans for the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh to safeguard its downstream water rights and bolster energy security.
____________________________
