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China Plans Dams Across Tibet.
China is set to build more than 750 hydroelectric power stations across Tibetto boost the region's electricity supply.
By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai
The Telegraph (UK). 14 Oct 2008.
China is determined to dam Tibet's rivers and lakes despite concerns about
the
local environment and about the effect the projects will have on neighbouring
countries.
Among others, Tibet is the source of the Yangtze, the Indus and the
Brahmaputra
rivers. Almost half the world's population live in the irrigation basins of
rivers that originate in Tibet.
In the last eight years, the Chinese government has invested 2.9 billion RMB
(£244 million) in building hydroelectric power stations and it now wants to
step up the pace of construction.
In the past, Tibetans have opposed many of the projects. In particular, the
project to dam the holy Yamdrok Yumtso, or Scorpion Lake, which lies at
14,500
ft above sea level and is thought to contain the spirit of Tibet.
More than 1,500 members of the People's Liberation Army now guard the
lake, and
no civilians are allowed near.
Chinese officials maintain, however, that the hydropower projects are the
least
environmentally-damaging way of electrifying the region and raising living
standards. Wang Qinghua, the head of the regional power board, said over 1.9
million Tibetan residents, or 69 per cent of the population, now have
access to
electricity, a 400 per cent increase from the figure three decades ago.
The Longtan hydropower station in Nanning will come on line before the end of
the year, according to Dai Bo, the general manager. Only the Three Gorges Dam
and the unbuilt Xiluodu Dam project are bigger in size than the 4,900
megawatt
Tibetan dam.
Longtan will cost around Pounds2.5 billion and is a key project for China's
western provinces, boasting the highest concrete dam in the world and the
largest underground industrial complex.
More than 80,000 Tibetans were relocated so that it could be built on the
upper
reaches of the Hongshui river.
Two other major power stations have come online in the last year. The latest
was a 40,000 kilowatt power station which started up at Gongbo'gyamda
County in
east Tibet two weeks ago.
Wang Lidong, director of the station's construction, said it had cost 60
million and would ease power shortages in the area.
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