The dam, which will be built downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River, will be capable of generating 300 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, according to estimates by the China Power Construction Corporation in 2020. That is three times the designed capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the world's largest, with a capacity of 88.2 billion kWh, in central China.

The project will play an important role in helping China achieve its carbon neutrality and emission reduction goals, while boosting industries such as engineering and creating jobs in Tibet, the official Xinhua news agency said on December 25.

The Yarlung Zangbo River, a 50-kilometer stretch of the river that rises an impressive 2,000 meters, offers great hydropower potential but also poses unique challenges. The cost of building the dam, including engineering costs, is expected to surpass the 254.2 billion yuan ($34.83 billion) cost of the Three Gorges Dam, including the relocation of some 1.4 million displaced people. That is four times the initial estimate of 57 billion yuan.

Officials say hydropower projects in Tibet, which is believed to hold more than a third of China's hydropower potential, will not have a major impact on the environment or downstream water supplies.

However, India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns about the project, as it could alter not only the local ecosystem but also affect the flow and direction of the river in downstream areas.

The Yarlung Zangbo River, when it leaves Tibet, becomes the Brahmaputra River, flowing into the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and finally into Bangladesh.

Ngoc Anh (according to Xinhua News Agency, Reuters)