China has commenced construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau, with an estimated investment of USD 170 billion.
The project, located on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, will comprise five cascade hydropower stations and is part of China’s broader strategy to scale up renewable energy and meet its carbon neutrality targets. The dam is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, catering to power demand in Tibet and mainland China.