Daily Current Affairs : 11-January-2025
China has recently approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, also known as the Brahmaputra. This ambitious plan is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and is expected to have major implications for energy production and geopolitical relations in the region.
The Scope of the Project
The project, which will have a capacity of 60 gigawatts (GW), will be built at the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Medog county of Tibet. The hydropower plant is expected to generate around 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—three times more than the famous Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. With an estimated cost of $137 billion, this hydropower project aims to transform China’s energy landscape and boost its power generation capabilities.
In addition to China, several countries in the region are affected by this project, including India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. While the main river does not flow through Bhutan, 96% of its territory lies within the river basin, making the country a significant player in the geopolitical dynamics of this project.
The Potential Impact of the Project
The construction of the dam will have various consequences, both environmentally and politically:
- Hydrological Impact: The dam will likely alter the flow patterns of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which could lead to flooding during the monsoon season and water shortages during dry periods, affecting downstream nations like India and Bangladesh.
- Ecological Risks: The dam poses a significant threat to biodiversity and river ecosystems. It could disrupt aquatic species and wetlands, causing long-term environmental damage.
- Seismic and Structural Risks: The Brahmaputra basin is seismically active, and building a mega-dam in this zone increases the risk of disasters such as dam failure and subsequent floods.
- Geopolitical Tensions: The control of water resources in this region could worsen tensions between China and lower riparian countries like India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The construction of the dam may lead to disputes over water rights and distribution.
- Disaster Vulnerability: There is an increased risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which could trigger catastrophic flooding, as seen in the 2023 Sikkim floods.
International Cooperation and Coordination
In order to address the concerns of all involved nations, China and its neighbors have established some cooperative frameworks. These include:
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation over transboundary rivers, which has been in place since 2013, and an MoU specifically for the Brahmaputra River, though the latter expired in 2023.
- The Expert Level Mechanism (ELM), established in 2006, allows China and India to share hydrological data. However, this arrangement lacks a comprehensive treaty that covers all aspects of water usage.
Notably, none of the riparian nations—China, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh—are signatories to the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997), which could have provided a more structured and binding approach to cooperation.
Important Points
- China has approved the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet.
- The project will have a capacity of 60 GW and cost $137 billion.
- It is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—three times more than the Three Gorges Dam.
- The project will be built at the Great Bend in the Medog county of Tibet, with implications for neighboring countries.
- Impact on downstream nations: India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh are affected, especially with changes in water flow patterns.
Potential Impacts of the Project:
- Hydrological Impact: Altered water flow could lead to flooding during monsoons and water scarcity during dry seasons.
- Ecological Risks: Threat to biodiversity, river ecosystems, aquatic species, and wetlands.
- Seismic and Structural Risks: Increased risk of disasters such as dam failure and floods due to the region’s seismic activity.
- Geopolitical Tensions: The control of water resources may increase tensions between China, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
- Disaster Vulnerability: Greater risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) affecting the region.
International Cooperation:
- China and its neighbors have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on transboundary rivers, but it lacks a comprehensive treaty.
- Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) for hydrological data sharing between China and India since 2006.
- None of the riparian countries are signatories to the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997).
Why In News
China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo (or Zangbo) River in Tibet, marking a significant step in the country’s push for renewable energy and infrastructure development in the region.
MCQs about China’s Massive Hydropower Project
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Where will China’s largest hydropower project be constructed?
A. Yangtze River
B. Yarlung Tsangpo River
C. Mekong River
D. Ganges River
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What is the estimated annual electricity generation capacity of the hydropower project?
A. 100 billion kilowatt-hours
B. 200 billion kilowatt-hours
C. 300 billion kilowatt-hours
D. 500 billion kilowatt-hours
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Which of the following countries are impacted by the hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River?
A. India, Nepal, Myanmar
B. China, Bhutan, Bangladesh
C. India, Bhutan, Bangladesh
D. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
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What are the primary environmental risks associated with the hydropower project?
A. Increased ocean pollution
B. Altered water flow patterns and ecological disruption
C. Increased global warming
D. Air pollution from dam construction
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