China has approved plans to build the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, close to the border with India. This ambitious project, estimated to cost $137 billion, will be the largest infrastructure venture globally and is expected to outshine even the massive Three Gorges Dam, currently the biggest in the world.
The dam is planned to be constructed in a deep Himalayan gorge where the Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, makes a sharp U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh in India and later into Bangladesh. The location’s steep terrain and high water flow make it ideal for hydropower generation, but the project has raised significant concerns among countries downstream, such as India and Bangladesh. These nations rely heavily on the river for agriculture, drinking water, and energy.
Chinese state media reports that the dam is part of the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan, which runs from 2021 to 2025, and aligns with long-term national development goals extending to 2035. The project also adds to China’s growing list of hydropower achievements in Tibet, including the Zam Hydropower Station, which began operations in 2015 at a cost of $1.5 billion.
However, this new venture has triggered serious geopolitical and environmental concerns. Experts and officials in India and Bangladesh worry about the dam’s potential to disrupt the river’s natural flow, affecting water availability and livelihoods in downstream regions. There are fears that the project could give China the ability to control the water supply to these countries, creating a potential tool for geopolitical leverage.
Beyond political implications, the project raises significant environmental questions. The construction of such a large dam in an ecologically sensitive area could impact biodiversity and disrupt natural habitats in the Himalayan region. Additionally, the massive scale of the project could lead to challenges in managing potential floods, sedimentation, and other risks associated with large hydropower projects.
China’s decision to proceed with this dam highlights the complex challenges of managing transboundary rivers, where upstream activities can have profound effects on downstream nations. It also underscores the need for international cooperation and dialogue to address the water security concerns of all countries sharing these vital waterways.
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