Reporter: Could you comment on the Three Gorges project construction work in 2001?

He Gong, vice-president of the Three Gorges Project Corporation: This is a big topic; 2001 was the first of three years in the key period of the second phase (1998-2003) of the Three Gorges dam construction. During 2001, we chalked up great successes with the project, but also encountered some difficulties and learned some lessons.

The major achievements included:

· The main tasks – such as pouring concrete, excavating and backfilling, installing metal structures – were completed on schedule;

· The project has already moved on from the concrete-pouring stage to the next stage, which involves the installation of metal structures and turbines;

· Project quality control has been given first priority. Some 50,000 items and tasks were accepted as being up to standard by central-government inspectors in 2001. And the accident rate was reduced, with half as many accidents causing injury or death occurring in 2001 as in the previous year;

· The project budget and construction costs were brought under control.

Reporter: What were the difficulties encountered and lessons learned in 2001?

He Gong: While we recorded some great achievements, we should bear in mind that some problems, and even risks and difficulties, remain that must not be ignored in the construction and management of the Three Gorges project.

These problems or lessons can be summarized as follows:

· Despite raising awareness about quality control among the builders – and experiencing no serious accidents associated with quality control in 2001 – we are facing a series of flaws in quality that have accumulated since the start of the project in 1994, which, if not resolved, will cost us a great deal in the future. With a greater investment in terms of budget, energy and personnel from here on, we should place emphasis on eliminating all these flaws in construction activities in 2002.

· The overall progress of the dam in 2001 was as smooth as planned and to our satisfaction. As far as the three major goals to be achieved by 2003 are concerned, we have no time to waste and no room for errors. If anything were to go wrong unexpectedly during this period – such as problems with project safety, quality or management – it would be a big blow and a direct threat to the goal of generating electricity from the first set of turbines in 2003. Actually, this is a real risk and potential problem, about which we are worrying constantly.

· Without a doubt, the use of modern construction techniques and advanced machinery and equipment has contributed to the dam-building successes. However, the operation and management of these construction systems are by no means perfect, due to a lack of knowledge and experience. If something were to go wrong in the future, even a partial or local error would result in a substantial delay, jeopardizing the project as a whole.

Based on the above, it is therefore imperative for us to pay increasing attention to the risks and difficulties associated with building the project in the coming year.

Reporter: Can you tell us something about the agenda for 2002?

He Gong: The construction timetable is as follows:

· In May, the upstream cofferdam will be dismantled and the water allowed in;

· In mid-June, tests (without water) will begin on the five-step permanent ship-lock;

· During the third quarter, the cofferdam downstream will be dismantled and the water allowed in;

· In the second half of October, the five-step permanent ship-lock will enter a second testing stage, with the water now having been let in;

· In mid-November, the diversion channel will be physically dammed.

Reporter: What are the challenges you face in 2002?

He Gong: First of all, installing the metal structures and turbines will require a high level of technical skill. Our country has never before installed turbines of this size (700MW), and the five-step permanent ship-lock is unique in the world. Moreover, most of the turbines and other high-voltage electric equipment systems are being imported from various foreign countries, so putting them all together properly, starting them up and operating them smoothly is likely to involve technical and quality-control issues related to their manufacturing and installation.

Secondly, according to the project timetable, we are being challenged by a particularly tight schedule. And, more importantly, when dismantling the cofferdam and sealing off the diversion channel, or damming the Yangtze River and testing the permanent ship-lock, we are inevitably going to face the merciless river, and, in particular, seasonal floodwater. I agree with my colleagues’ statements that from now on we are in a race against time, as well as against floodwater. If we encounter a substantial delay or any major technical trouble in the coming year, there could be serious consequences.

Finally, starting in 2002, our completed work will be checked piece by piece before being accepted by the central government, which will be a big test and amount to an examination of everything that we have done. So it is vital that we make every effort to eliminate the accumulated flaws and allow no hidden problems to remain in our daily construction activities.

Reporter: The development of hydropower potential on the Jinsha (Golden Sand) River upstream of the Three Gorges has gained wide attention in China. The Three Gorges Development Corporation will build at least two more huge dams on the Jinsha River once the Three Gorges project is completed. How are things coming along with those two dams?

He Gong: We have made great progress on the two big dams during a six-year early phase of survey and investigation. We are about to complete the feasibility studies on the Xiluodu dam and submit them to the State Council during the first quarter of 2002. At the same time, we will speed up the feasibility study and design work on the Xiangjiaba dam.

I would like to stress that the key to launching the two dams on the Jinsha River lies in whether we are able to achieve the three great goals [of the Three Gorges project] by 2003. This is why we repeatedly stress that 2002 is a particularly important year for all of us. And 2003 is not far off; there are only 18 months to go before the Three Gorges reservoir is filled, and 22 months before the first group of turbines start generating electricity. We builders and workers on the Three Gorges project should all realize that we are already at a critical stage, so we should guard against arrogance and rashness, strengthen unity and achieve our goals.