In recent news, China has commenced operations of the Baihetan Dam, one of the world’s most significant hydroelectric power dams. It’s the second-largest globally, following closely behind the Three Gorges Dam, which also operates along China’s Yangtze River and started functioning in 2003.
A Closer Look at the Baihetan Dam
Located on the Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze (Asia’s longest river), the Baihetan Dam is a massive engineering spectacle. With an installed capacity totaling 16,000 megawatts, it’s set to generate enough electricity each day to meet around 500,000 people’s annual power needs.
Baihetan Dam’s Significance for China
The dam represents a significant part of China’s effort to curb the increasing demand for fossil fuels by adding more hydropower capacity. This development coincides with a period of declining popularity for dams in other countries due to environmental concerns such as river ecology disruption, farmland flooding, and threats to various species. China’s declaration in 2020 to hit carbon neutrality by 2060 has expedited the dam’s construction.
Other Upcoming Projects in China
China’s future mega-dam project planned in Tibet’s Medog County is set to overshadow the Three Gorges Dam in terms of size. However, analysts speculate that this project could pose a threat to Tibetan cultural heritage while enabling Beijing to control a considerable share of India’s water supply. The plan involves constructing a dam on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River.
The Brahmaputra, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China, is among the world’s longest rivers. It originates from the Himalayas in Tibet then journeys through Arunachal Pradesh in India, before traversing Assam, Bangladesh and finally discharging into the Bay of Bengal.
Concerns and Challenges
Agricultural Impact
There are concerns that such a large dam could retain the vast amount of silt carried by the Brahmaputra River. Silty soil is incredibly fertile and suitable for crop cultivation; thus, this could impact farming downstream.
Water Resources
India’s apprehensions extend to the release of water during monsoon periods. When northeastern states such as Assam are prone to floods, a change in the flow rate could exacerbate the situation. Moreover, concerns arise in times of political standoff between China and India, as observed during the 2017 Doklam border conflict when China ceased communication of its dams’ water flow levels.
Ecological Impact
The Himalayan region’s ecosystem is already witnessing a decline, and disruptions from dam construction could lead to catastrophic effects. The region is home to a wide variety of unique flora and fauna, some of which are critically endangered.
Moving Forward
India has urged China to ensure that upstream activities do not harm the interests of downstream states. In parallel, India is exploring a 10 gigawatts (GW) hydropower project in the Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh, to alleviate the potential adverse effects of the Chinese dam. However, the most crucial contention lies in the fact that excessive hydropower development may not be suitable for a fragile mountain environment.
