The Grand Gamble: A Dam Like No Other, Shaping the Future of Energy.
The year 2024 has been marked by colossal energy announcements, from futuristic cities in Saudi Arabia to solar parks in India. However, none seem comparable to the one that China has put on the table: to build in Tibet the largest source of energy ever conceived by man. A project that, in the heart of Tibet where the river drops 2,000 meters in just 50 kilometers. That natural drop is the key that explains the gigantic hydroelectric potential of the area. Beijing plans to take advantage of it with a chain of five cascading hydroelectric power stations, aimed at meeting the country’s growing energy demand.
The estimated cost amounts to 170 billion dollars, and its inauguration is projected for the 2030s. With a production of 300 TWh per year, the project, hailed by Prime Minister Li Qiang as a decisive step towards energy independence and global leadership in renewables, is not without its critics. Environmental NGOs warn of the risks of altering such a fragile ecosystem, as well as pointing out the high seismic activity of the region. Millions of people depend on the flow of the Yarlung Zangbo river downstream, and fear that the works may affect the water supply and water security in their territories.
Experts argue that the dam will not have a significant impact on water flow and has been designed to respect the natural balance of the area. However, the magnitude of the project raises inevitable questions: will this source of energy be a historic triumph or a gamble with unpredictable consequences? For now, the only thing certain is that the largest hydroelectric project ever created by man is already underway, and its outcome will mark a before and after in the history of global energy.
