Risks Loom for Chinese Dam Project Being Built on Active Fault Line
As China erects the largest hydropower installation on Earth atop an active fault line in the Himalayas, Chinese scientists are calling on engineers to guard against risks from earthquakes. Read more on E360 →
China is constructing the world's largest hydropower project atop an active fault line in Tibet's Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, the longest and deepest canyon in the world. The $167 billion installation, with a generating capacity of 70 gigawatts, consists of five dams. However, scientists warn of seismic risks due to Tibet's propensity for earthquakes, which could jeopardize the project.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake near the Nepal border last year claimed over 120 lives and destroyed more than 3,600 buildings. Scientists note that the construction site has a "loose structure and weak cohesion," making it susceptible to slope instability triggered by fault activity and earthquakes. To mitigate landslide risks, they recommend reinforcing slopes and installing retaining walls.
Beyond seismic concerns, the project may also threaten local wildlife, including snow leopards, Bengal tigers, and Tibetan brown bears. Moreover, the river gorge could see a future conflict if China controls the dam's water flow to India, which is planning its own large-scale dam downstream.
Written by urgent.news from Yale Environment 360's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
