China begins construction on world’s largest hydropower dam

China has broken ground on what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower dam. The ~$170 billion project is set on the Yarlung Zangbo River on the Tibetan plateau.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called the mega-dam a “project of the century,” and emphasized “ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage.”

The dam is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, helping meet the energy demands of both China and Tibet.

Neighbors to the river, like India and Bangladesh, aren’t exactly cheering. Environmental groups warn the dam could devastate ecosystems and disrupt the livelihoods of millions.

Despite the backlash, Beijing considers the dam a milestone in its green energy push. According to the International Energy Agency, China could contribute nearly 60% of global green energy capacity by 2030.