After floods hit Tibet and Nepal, safety questions mount over China’s plan to build world’s largest dam

Devastating floods have struck Nepal, raising concerns about the safety of China's ambitious plan to construct the world's largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra River. Chinese experts warn that the massive dam could make the region more vulnerable to natural disasters. Construction of the 1.2 trillion-yuan project began in Nyingtri, Tibet, in July 2025, utilizing a 2,000-meter drop over 50 kilometers of the river.

It is expected to generate three times more electricity than the current world's largest power station, the Three Gorges Dam. The Yarlung Tsangpo flows through China, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and is prone to disasters due to tectonic movement and glacial retreat. Chinese researchers have identified a fault beneath the construction site that could trigger landslides and debris flows.

The Nepal floods have highlighted the potential risks the dam project poses, including earthquakes and landslides. The excavation required for the dam's construction could further exacerbate these risks. Experts from India and Nepal stress the need for greater transparency, disclosure, and cooperation between China and Himalayan countries to address these concerns.