Yarlung Zangbo Hydropower

On Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the official start of construction of the Yarlung Zangbo Hydropower Project, as Xinhuanews agency reported. The project is set to be the world's largest hydropower project once completed, aiming to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. It will produce much more electricity than the Three Gorges Dam, which is China's biggest dam.

Premier Li Qiang attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi City, the southwestern Xizang Autonomous Region. Li, who is also a member of the Communist Party of China's top leadership body, said the project marks a major step in the country's energy development strategy.

The ceremony was held at the dam site of the Mainling Hydropower Station, one of five planned cascade stations that make up the project. The total investment is expected at about 1.2 trillion yuan (about US$167.8 billion).

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Power Construction Corporation of China, and members of an expert advisory committee on the project were present. Local people also attended.

The hydropower project is designed mainly to send electricity to areas outside Xizang, while also meeting local power needs.

Separately, a ceremony was recently held in Beijing to launch China Yajiang Group Co., Ltd., which will oversee the construction and operation of the project. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended that event.