China has officially approved construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. The ambitious project aims to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. That’s more than three times the Three Gorges Dam capacity, the biggest in the world today. It is a big stride toward achieving the goal of carbon neutrality and tapping into the huge hydroelectric potential in Tibet, coupled with significant steps toward enhancing regional economic development. The large project also comes with major risks of ecological disruption, displacement, and international water-sharing conflicts.
The proposed dam will be constructed on a part of the Yarlung Zangbo River, where it plunges an incredible 2,000 meters over a distance of only 50 kilometers. This geographical feature presents enormous hydropower potential but also huge engineering challenges. Chinese authorities, however, see the project as a strategic asset that supports the country’s green energy transition, aligns with its carbon peaking and neutrality objectives, and drives industrial and economic growth in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Officials have stressed that the project will have negligible environmental or water supply impacts, though these claims have been met with skepticism.
The dam will be larger and more expensive than the Three Gorges Dam, with costs estimated to be over $34.83 billion. Details of the social cost—the number of people that will be relocated—have not been announced. In the past, large-scale hydropower projects have generally been criticized for their social and ecological impacts on local communities, and this new one will likely be no exception.
The project has also raised concerns in India and Bangladesh, as the Yarlung Zangbo River flows into these countries as the Brahmaputra. Both nations fear disruptions in the flow of water and ecological stability downstream, which could impact agriculture, livelihoods, and biodiversity. These apprehensions underline the geopolitical implications of such large-scale infrastructure projects on transboundary rivers. Experts warn that the dam could further exacerbate tensions between China and its downstream neighbors, emphasizing the need for strong dialogue and cooperation on water-sharing agreements and ecological preservation.
Chinese state media have trumpeted the dam’s role in advancing the country’s goals on green energy and, by extension, promoting development in the region. Authorities note that more than a third of the country’s total hydroelectric potential is in Tibet. Hydropower projects like this are key to the nation’s plan for renewable energy. Of course, there is heated debate over what the environmental and social costs should be for tapping this potential.
As construction moves forward, the project will become a focus of international attention, with India and Bangladesh pushing for shared water and environmental protection. The mega-engineering exercise can take several years to complete, thus giving ample time for a dialogue on mitigating cross-border impacts. The larger picture of green energy transitions around the globe shows how complex balancing between development, sustainability, and international cooperation in such aspects can be.