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What does China want to achieve from the dam?

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What does China want to achieve from the dam?
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      China's primary motivations for constructing the mega-dam on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet) are multi-faceted, encompassing energy security, economic development, and strategic considerations. Here's a breakdown of what China aims to achieve: 1. Massive Hydropower Generation and EneRead more

      China’s primary motivations for constructing the mega-dam on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet) are multi-faceted, encompassing energy security, economic development, and strategic considerations. Here’s a breakdown of what China aims to achieve:

      1. Massive Hydropower Generation and Energy Security:

      • Meeting Soaring Energy Demand: China is the world’s largest energy consumer, and its demand for electricity continues to grow rapidly to fuel its industrial and urban expansion. Hydropower is a crucial component of its strategy to meet this demand.
      • Carbon Neutrality Goals: China has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Hydropower is a clean, renewable energy source that produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. Harnessing the immense hydropower potential of the Yarlung Zangbo, particularly at the Great Bend where there’s a significant drop in elevation, is key to boosting its clean energy mix and reducing reliance on fossil fuels like coal. The project is projected to generate 60,000 megawatts (60 GW) of electricity annually, dwarfing the Three Gorges Dam’s output.
      • Diversifying Energy Sources: Relying heavily on coal has led to pollution and supply chain vulnerabilities. Developing massive hydropower projects helps diversify China’s energy portfolio, enhancing energy security and resilience.

      2. Regional Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation in Tibet:

      • Boosting Local Economies: Large-scale infrastructure projects like this dam create numerous jobs in construction, logistics, and related industries. This can stimulate economic growth in the relatively underdeveloped Tibet Autonomous Region.
      • Local Power Needs: While much of the generated electricity is intended for other regions of China, the dam will also help meet the local power needs of Tibet, improving quality of life and supporting local industries.
      • Infrastructure Development: The construction of such a massive project often necessitates the development of supporting infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and communication networks, further benefiting the region.

      3. Water Management and Control (including flood control and irrigation):

      • Flood Control (Claimed Benefit): Chinese officials often state that large dams can help regulate river flow, reducing the risk of devastating floods downstream. While this is a common justification for dams, its application to transboundary rivers is viewed with skepticism by downstream nations who fear the opposite effect from sudden water releases.
      • Water Supply Management: While the primary focus appears to be power generation, control over a major river’s flow at its source could, in theory, offer opportunities for water supply management for agriculture and other uses, though China has largely stated this is not the intention for this particular “run-of-the-river” style project.

      4. Strategic and Geopolitical Leverage:

      • Command over Shared Water Resources: By building mega-dams at the source of transboundary rivers, China gains significant control over the water flow. This upstream position grants it a strategic advantage and potential leverage in future negotiations with downstream countries like India and Bangladesh, especially in the absence of a comprehensive water-sharing treaty.
      • Assertion of Sovereignty: Constructing such a monumental project in Tibet can also be seen as an assertion of China’s sovereignty over the region and its resources, demonstrating its engineering prowess and determination.

      In essence, China seeks to harness the immense, largely untapped hydropower potential of the Yarlung Zangbo to power its economic growth, contribute to its environmental goals, and potentially bolster its strategic position in the region.

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