China has started construction on the world’s first super dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, set to produce three times more electricity than the existing Three Gorges Dam. This project, costing an estimated $167.8 billion, will be the largest and most expensive infrastructure project on Earth.
Inaugurated by Premier Li Qiang, the project includes five hydropower stations and is expected to generate over 300 billion kWh annually—enough to power 300 million people. It also involves drilling multiple 20 km tunnels to redirect 50% of the river’s flow, which eventually enters India as the Brahmaputra.
The site, prone to heavy rainfall and seismic activity, presents major engineering and environmental challenges. China has promised robust geological safeguards using advanced technology.
There is no water-sharing treaty between China, India, and Bangladesh, sparking concerns in India about potential water flow disruptions.
