Three Gorges Dam Project

• Attractions
• Maps
• Cruise Schedule and Rates
• Tour we offer
• Cruise Ship
• All Timetable
  

China has undertaken the greatest project since the erection of the Great Wall and the Grand Canal -- the Three Gorges Dam project. The Three Gorges Dam will be the largest hydropower station and dam in the world, with a 1.2 mile stretch of concrete and a 370 mile-long reservoir and 525 feet deep. This project will cost more than virtually any other single construction project in history.

Location: Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei province
Height: 181 meters
Expected investment: 203.9 billion renminbi (US$24.65 billion)
Number of migrants: 1.13 million
Installed power generation capacity: 18.2 million kilowatts
Functions: Flood control, power generation, improved navigation

Construction timetable (source: China Daily Business Weekly):
1993-1997: The Yangtze River was diverted after four years in November 1997
1998-2003: The first batch of generators will begin to generate power in 2003 and a permanent ship lock is scheduled to open for navigation the same year.
2004-2009: The entire project is to be completed by 2009 when all 26 generators will be able to generate power.
Fund sources (source: China Daily Business Weekly):

The Three Gorges Dam Construction Fund
Revenue from Gezhouba Power Plant
Policy loans from the China Development Bank
Loans from domestic and foreign commercial banks
Corporate bonds

Description:
The idea of building a dam across the Yangtze river to control flooding and to and to harness it for hydropower has been the dream of several generations of Chinese since the time of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, forerunner of China's democratic revolution. The first proposition for construction dates back to the year 1919, when Dr. Sun Yat Sen suggested to build a dam at the Three Gorges. Since 1954, hinese and foreign scientists and engineers have devoted themselves to the planning, design and consulting work of the project.

As planned, the capacity of Three Gorges dam, 17 million kilowatts, will top that of the largest dam currently operating by 40 percent. Its projected annual power generation of 84 billion kilowatt-hours is equivalent to a coal mine capacity of 40 to 50 million tons per year. The project will supply power mainly to the central China grid of Hubei, Hunan, Henen, and Jiangsu, and Anhui. It will cost (in 1990 prices) as estimated RMB 57 billion ($ 10.57 billion). Once completed, the dam will be 185 meters high and store 39.3 billion cubic meters of water. It will create a reservoir 36 miles long and 525 feet deep.

Supporters say the benefits of the project far outweigh the costs. The principal advantage of the project is to generate power to keep pace with China's economic growth. It is estimated that China's power output must rise by 8 percent annually to keep pace
with 6 percent annual increase in gross national product. In practical term, that means the nation's total 1990 power capacity of 130 million kilowatts must grow to 580 million by the year 2015.

Chinese officials note that the dam will relieve the danger of flooding. The Chang Jiang River Valley has been chronically threatened by flooding. For example, in 1954, a flood killed 30.000 people and left one million homeless. In addition, navigation capacities on the river from Yichang to Chongging will be improved, thus, 10.000 tons fleets can make direct trips.

Another advantage of the dam is to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide; generating electricity equal to about 40 million tons of coal. China's growing coal consumption poses a huge threat to the environment. Coal burning emits several harmful
air pollution including carbon dioxide (CO2), a major contribution to the global warming. Three quarters of the country's energy comes from coal. China used between 1.1 and 1.2 bn tons of coal in 1993, mostly for heating and generating electricity. Industry source predict China will consume as much as 1.5 to 1.6 bn tons by the year 2000. Sulfur dioxide emissions, which cause acid rain,
are expected to rise from 15.5 million tons in 1991 to 1.4 billion.

In April 1992, the National People's Congress approved the construction of the Chang Jiang River, the world's third largest river, as part of China's 10-year development program. The project has four goals: to prevent flooding of the navigation on the river, and to generate power for the surrounding communities. It consists of three parts: a dam, a hydropower station and navigation facilities.

The impact to international trade is indirect, but nonetheless, important. The construction of the hydroelectric dam requires umerous international inputs, such as machinery and hydraulic equipment. Moreover, the generated power of 17 million kilowatts will be used for industry to boost outputs. The ground breaking began December, 1994, but the resettlement of residents had begun two years before that. The full-scale construction is currently underway and the projected completion date is 15 years away in the year 2010.

In April 1992, the plan was formally endorsed by the National People's Congress (NPC). It is believed that the project will alter the entire ecological system and environment in the area. Not only will it divert the river's natural course, but it will also reclaim hundreds of acres of land that is the habitat for many species.