The Three Gorge Dam Project

The Three Gorges dam is the largest hydropower project in the world as of 2010.

The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest hydropower project, located in the Xilingxia gorge, one of three gorges of the Yangtze river in China. The project was officially started on December 14, 1993, with the first generator connected to the power grid on July 10, 2003.

Early History

The concept for the project dates back as far as 1918, when Mr. Sun Yat-Sen reportedly suggested in his writings a concept for a dam to ease navigation and use the water as a source of power. In 1945, Dr. John Lucian Savage, an American dam expert, provided a preliminary report on the feasibility of the Three Gorges plan.

Statistics

The project is estimated to generate up to 84 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough to supply 10 to 15 percent of China's energy needs. Chinese estimates put the cost at US$10 billion, but worldwide estimates put the figure closer to between US$20 to US$50 billion.

Environmental and Human Rights Concenrs

The project was plagued by environmental concerns arising out of the planned flooding of millions of acres of the Yangtze valley. According to an estimate by International Rivers Network in 2003, nearly two million people needed to be resettled.

References

• China Three Gorges Project: Introduction
• China Three Gorges Project: History
• Imperial Tours: Three Gorges Dam