The Three Gorges Project, the world's largest hydroelectric project, is ready to store water to the 156 meter mark following this year's flood season.

The third phase for the water storage of the project has met the requirements for 156-meter-high water level, said the technological assessment committee of the third phase construction of the Three Gorges Project, under the State Council, after days of examination.

The 156-meter-high water level is the second phase of water storage for the Three Gorges Project, with its current water level at around 135 to 139 meters high.

The stored water level will reach 175 meters, the highest, when it completes in 2009.

The project's main dam, which is 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high above sea level, was completed on May 20 this year.

Launched in 1993, the Three Gorges Project, built at an estimated cost of 180 billion yuan (approximately US$22.5. billion), will be installed with 26 generators with the combined generating capacity amounting to 18.2 million kw and be able to generate 84.7 billion kwh of electricity annually.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)