The earthquake has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of China’s extensive hydropower projects in Tibet.

By Tenzin Nyidon | Phayul Newsdesk

Summary

China has reported structural damage to five out of 14 hydropower dams in Tibet following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on January 7. Three dams have been emptied to mitigate risks, and one severely damaged reservoir required the evacuation of 1,500 residents.

This incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of China’s extensive hydropower projects in the seismically active Tibetan plateau. Despite these risks, China plans to build the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which has sparked environmental and geopolitical concerns for downstream nations.

President Penpa Tsering of the Tibetan government in exile warned China to prioritize environmental assessments for such mega-projects, emphasizing the potential catastrophic consequences of any damage to these structures.

Environmentalists and geopolitical experts have called for increased scrutiny of China’s infrastructure projects in Tibet to prevent disasters that could impact millions across Asia.

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