China Initiates Construction of Controversial Mega Dam in Tibet

China has commenced the construction of a significant dam in Tibet, a project that has raised considerable controversy. According to the state-run news agency Xinhua, Premier Li Qiang announced the start of this ambitious project during a groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi, located in the southern part of the autonomous region near the Indian border.

During his visit, Li also inspected other major construction projects in the area. The planned dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River aims to generate electricity not only for local use but also to supply power to other regions. The estimated cost of the dam, which will consist of five power plants, is projected to be around 1.2 trillion Yuan (approximately 143.8 billion Euros).

The construction of this dam has been included in the Communist Party's current five-year plan, with the Chinese government giving the green light for the project last December. The dam is expected to produce an annual output of 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is three times the capacity of the well-known Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, making it the largest dam in the world.

China views this dam as a pivotal element in its strategy to reach its carbon dioxide emission peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. However, the project has sparked environmental concerns, with critics worried about its potential impact on the local ecosystem. Additionally, the dam's construction has drawn the attention of neighboring countries, particularly India and Bangladesh, which are located downstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo.

India has recently urged China to ensure that the dam does not adversely affect the interests of other nations reliant on the river. The dam's location is also significant, as it lies near a region that has been a longstanding point of contention between China and India, known as Zangnan in China and Arunachal Pradesh in India. This territorial dispute has historically led to diplomatic tensions between the two most populous countries in the world.

As the construction progresses, it remains to be seen how the project will affect regional relations and environmental conditions in the area.