China Breaks Ground on Yalu Zangbu Dam as Premier Li Qiang Dubs it ‘The Project of the Century’

On 19 July 2025, Chinese Premier Li Qiang took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Yalu Zangbu (Yarlung Tsangpo) River Dam. Whereas the world’s largest Three Gorges Dam cost RMB 250 billion to build and generates 88 MWh annually, the Yalu Zangbu hydropower project (HPP) is estimated to cost RMB 1.2 trillion ($167B) and will generate more than 300 GWh annually. Thus, during the ceremony, Premier Li proudly dubbed it ‘The Project of the Century.’

Originating in the Himalaya Mountain Range in the Tibetan Plateau, the Yalu Zangbu River flows downstream into India’s Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states, where it is known as Brahmaputra River. Then, it traverses Bangladesh, where it is known as the Jamuna River, before finally exiting into the Bay of Bengal.

Given its sheer size and scale, both India and Bangladesh expressed concerns about China weaponizing the hydrology. China responded that it is not pursuing ‘water hegemony’ and is willing to cooperate with downstream nations to ‘prevent and mitigate flooding.’

The #HPP exploits an altitude differential of 2,000 meters over a stretch of 50 kilometers as the water winds through a U-shaped canyon. According to the blueprint, the complex consists of five cascaded hydropower stations along the Chinese Grand Canyon.

Although no official announcement was made regarding its completion date, some experts estimate that the project will likely take at least a decade. Other than the jumbo scale, the project poses certain challenges due to its altitude and remoteness.

The project was first announced in 2020 as part of China’s 14th five-year National Development Plan (#NDP) and is in line with the global green trend for the #EnergyTranstion. However, budget estimates have had to be revised up as costs have climbed since 2020.