A thousand kilometers upstream from the Three Gorges Project,
China continues to throw up hydropower stations on the Yangtze.
Construction began Sunday on the 6-million kw Xiangjiaba
hydropower facility, the second on this section of the Yangtze
after earthworks began on the Xiluodu project last year.
The section of the Yangtze that flows between Yushu in Qinghai Province and Yibin in Sichuan Province is often called the Jinsha
River and, before long, it will be dotted with hydropower
developments.
Jinsha means golden sand in Chinese, and the Jinsha River is
said to have produced "golden sand" since ancient times.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the start of construction on
Sunday, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan emphasized the need to consider all
aspects of the Xiangjiaba development, including its impact on
sustainable development.
Hydroelectric projects need to be managed in an orderly manner,
residents forced to relocate need to be properly looked after, the
environment needs to be protected and thought given to preventing
and controlling natural disasters, said Zeng.
He reminded developers that quality and safety are fundamental
principles in hydropower developments.
Zeng said more use should be made of modern technology in these
kinds of project.
Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and
Reform Commission, said the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu projects would
help the nation exploit the rich hydroelectric resources on the
Jinsha River.
The China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development
Corporation has plans to build 22 more hydropower stations on the
Yangtze, including two more -- Baihetan and Wudongde hydropower
stations -- on the lower reaches of the Jinsha River section.
According to Li Yong'an, general manager of the China Yangtze
River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, developer of
all the projects, a feasibility study for the 12 million kw
Baihetan hydropower station has been completed and approved by
experts. Work has also started on a feasibility study for the
Wudongde hydropower station.
Construction of the two hydropower stations is expected to start
in 2009 and be completed by 2020.
The four hydropower stations will have a combined capacity of
38.5 million kw upon completion, said Li, but the potential
hydroelectric capacity of this 2,300-km section of the Yangtze is
estimated at 112 million kw.
Workers will start to dam the Jinsha River in 2008.
The Xiangjiaba hydropower station -- located near Yibin – will
displace 88,000 residents from six counties in southwest China's
Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
Some 8,000 people have already been resettled.
Budgeted to cost 43.4 billion yuan (about US$5.43 billion), it
will be completed in 2015 and will be able to generate 30.7 billion
kw/hour of electricity a year.
In addition to providing power, the project will also play a
role in flood control, farmland irrigation, will improve navigation
and have a positive effect on the environment, according to Li.
Electricity generated by hydropower stations on the Jinsha River
will mainly be sold to China's eastern, southern and central
regions.
Statistics provided by the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources
show that Chinese rivers could generate 540 million kw of
hydroelectric power capacity. Currently, only one fifth of the
total is being exploited, as compared with three fifths in
developed nations.
Wang Shucheng, Minister of Water Resources, insists that China
will make vigorous efforts to tap its rich hydroelectric resources.
By 2020, the country will have tapped 46 percent of its hydropower
resources and raised capacity to 250 million kw.
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)
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