August 17, 2000

Guangzhou-based Southern Weekend reports that there are irregularities in the bidding procedures for Three Gorges dam. According to Southern Weekend — China’s best-read weekly with a circulation of 500,000 and renowned for its coverage of sensitive issues — a high-priced bid for a chemical additive used in concrete mixing was rejected by the Three Gorges Corporation while three other lower-priced bids of a similar quality were accepted. Says Southern Weekend it became apparent in June that the rejected additive was, in fact, in use at the dam site, meanwhile, the three bids that were accepted have been stalled.