China to proceed with Brahmaputra mega dam despite new concerns
Dubbed the ‘project of the century’ by Beijing, it has been included in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for renewable energy; of concern to India is the impact it could have downstream, particularly in the aftermath of the recent devastating flash flood along the Nepal-China border
China is set to proceed with the construction of a mega dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo, also known as the Brahmaputra River, despite new concerns arising from a glacial collapse along the Nepal-China border. The dam, referred to as the Yarlung Zangbo Lower Reaches Hydropower Project, is part of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for renewable energy, which prioritizes the advancement of major projects.
China's Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing visited Nyingchi in Tibet, near the border, in April 2026 and emphasized the importance of the project, stating that the government would prioritize quality and safety in its construction. The project, which has an estimated investment of 1.2 trillion Yuan (around ₹14 lakh crore), will involve the construction of five power stations and a reservoir, with Chinese analysts projecting an installed capacity of 60 GW and power generation of 300 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
