(May 6, 2002) The Three Gorges Project Corp. is to begin building the Xiluodu dam later this month.

Chengdu: China’s second largest hydropower station, Xiluodu Hydropower Station, will start construction in late December, according to sources with the China Three Gorges Project Corporation. An official with the corporation said that three years of preparations including the technical plan, environmental protection, water protection, and the relocation of over 7,000 residents in the construction area, have paved the way for the smooth operation of the project. The hydropower station is expected to stem the turbulent river in November 2007, and first generating unit will be installed in June 2012. According to the schedule, the reservoir will store water up to 540 meters high and the generating set will start to generate electricity in 2013. The station will be completed in 2015. It will be the second largest hydropower project of China, next only to the Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze. The station will be installed with about 12.6 million kilowatts of generation capacity . Construction of the hydropower station is part of China’s west-to-east electricity transmission project, which aims to transfer power from the hydropower-rich southwest to the electricity-thirsty east. The station will also help prevent or control floods, block sand, and improve ship conveyance.

Xinhua, May 6, 2002