March 2, 2001

(1) China schedules progress of Three Gorges Project
(2) Chinese media picks up on TGP’s lead

(1) China schedules progress of Three Gorges Project
Mar. 2, 2001 – According to a Xinhua news story reported in China Daily Information, sources from China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Co. announced that the first group of two generators for the Three Gorges Project, world’s largest hydro-electric project, will start operation in October 2003. With the latest timetable, the second group of two generators will supply electricity two months later, and the permanent ship lock will open to traffic in June the same year, after all testing and adjustment work succeed. Concrete pouring work on the dam body is scheduled to be finished by 2002 and water will be stored behind the dam by June 2003. Xinhua reported that “This year will be a crucial stage for the Three Gorges project and all participants are required to work even harder and give top priority to the project quality by the central government.” According the a Three Gorges Project Development Company source, the project has made smooth headway since 1993 when it began.

(2) Chinese media picks up on TGP’s lead
Feb. 17, 2001 – Taiwan’s China Times and VIP Reference, known as Dacankao — an online publication dedicated to promoting Hong Kong’s grass-roots democracy movement and freedom of the press on its Web site (http://www.bignews.org), which has received 3.5 million visitors since May, 2000 — have joined the growing list of publications to highlight Three Gorges Probe’s coverage of leaked correspondence between China’s leaders. The controversial documents reveal growing official alarm over the Three Gorges dam project and indicate that government claims about the project could be false. According to VIP Reference, internal documents, obtained by Three Gorges Probe, show that some high-ranking Chinese officials fear the project might fail and will not fulfill government claims that it will control flooding in the area and secure a market for its power. Costly pollution problems as a result of the project are another major concern.

[Link to Three Gorges Probe press release, February 14, 2001]

– END –

Three Gorges Probe welcomes submissions. However, it is not a forum for political debate. Rather, Three Gorges Probe is dedicated to covering the scientific, technical, economic, social, and environmental ramifications of completing the Three Gorges Project, as well as the alternatives to the dam.

Publisher: Patricia Adams
Executive Editor: Mu Lan
Assistant Editor: Lisa Peryman
ISSN 1481-0913