China begins construction of first hydropower plant in controversial project

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2005

BEIJING (AFP) — China this week began construction of the first of four major hydropower plants on an strategically-important river, in a controversial project that has raised environmental concerns.

The Xiluodu hydropower station on the Jinsha river, a tributary of the Yangtze between the southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, will have an installed capacity of 12.6 million kilowatts, the China Daily reported Wednesday.

The six-billion-dollar Xiluodu plant is slated for completion in 2015.

The Jinsha river project, including the construction of three other hydropower stations -- Xiangjiaba, Wudongde and Baihetan -- will have a combined installed capacity of 38.5 million kilowatts.

The energy output will be twice as large as the famous Three...