China Daily
June 6, 2006
CHENGDU: China plans to accelerate the development of water resources on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River as part of the country’s efforts to develop the western region. Liu Junfeng, general manager of the Ertan Hydroelectric Development Company, said recently that four large hydropower stations with a combined installed capacity of 9.05 million kilowatts will be built on the Yalongjiang River in the near future. The Yalongjiang River in China’s Southwestern Sichuan Province is one of the country’s 12 large water energy resource bases, with proven reserves of water energy of 33.4 million kilowatts. It has been reported by a concerned department that 21 hydropower stations could be built on the river in accordance with future development plans. According to Liu, 400 million yuan (US$48.2 million) has been invested in preparation for the construction of the Guandi and the Jinping No 1 hydropower stations. The Jinping No 1 station, with an installed capacity of 3.6 million kilowatts, will be capable of generating 18.2 billion kilowatt hours a year, and will cost 30 billion yuan (US$3.6 billion) to build. The embankment of the station will be 325 metres high. The station is expected to play a pivotal role in developing water energy resources and invigorating the economy of western China, said Liu. The Ertan Hydropower Station, the largest facility of its kind in China scheduled for completion this century, is also located on the Yalongjiang River. The station has an installed capacity of 3.3 million kilowatts.