A remote Himalayan river bend in Tibet is becoming the center of one of China’s most ambitious and contentious infrastructure projects, a 168 billion dollars hydropower system that could eventually generate more electricity than any other facility in the world. The site, located along the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, lies far from China’s eastern population centers but has drawn intense national and international attention.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping signaled the project’s priority during a rare visit to Tibet earlier this year, urging officials to advance construction “forcefully, systematically and effectively.” His remarks underscored Beijing’s determination to expand energy capacity as the country accelerates its shift toward electric vehicles, data‑intensive industries and artificial intelligence systems that demand enormous power supplies.
Experts say the hydropower system would be an engineering achievement without precedent. The plan involves blasting tunnels through a mountain to exploit a 2,000‑meter altitude drop, allowing China to harness one of Asia’s most powerful rivers in a region often described as the continent’s “water tower.” Hydrologists note that no other project has attempted to capture such a steep descent at this scale.
Supporters argue the project could help China reduce its reliance on coal, aiding global efforts to slow climate change. China’s Ministry of Water Resources has said hydropower remains essential to meeting national carbon‑reduction goals and stabilizing the country’s rapidly growing electricity demand.
But environmental researchers warn that large‑scale construction in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem could disrupt rare habitats and threaten the ancestral lands of Indigenous communities who have lived in the region for generations. Seismologists also point out that the area sits in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, raising concerns about landslides and dam safety.
The river’s importance extends far beyond China’s borders. Tens of millions of people in India and Bangladesh depend on the Brahmaputra — the name the Yarlung Tsangpo takes downstream — for fishing, farming and daily life. Scientists say the potential ecological impact on these countries remains insufficiently studied, particularly during dry seasons when water flows are critical.
India has voiced unease, with its Ministry of External Affairs calling for greater transparency and data sharing. Indian media have labeled the project a potential “water bomb,” reflecting fears that upstream control could affect water availability or heighten risks in a region prone to flooding. Its proximity to the disputed China‑India border adds another layer of tension to a long‑running territorial standoff between the two nuclear‑armed neighbors.
Despite the project’s scale and geopolitical implications, Beijing has released few technical details. The secrecy has fueled questions about China’s approach to major infrastructure in Tibet, a region where the central government maintains tight political control and often restricts access to outside observers.
Open‑source analysis and references in official and scientific documents suggest the system may include a network of dams and reservoirs along the Yarlung Tsangpo. These would likely feed a series of underground hydropower stations connected by tunnels, capturing energy as diverted water plunges through steep elevation changes.
As construction advances, analysts say the project will remain a focal point of regional concern. Its outcome will test China’s ability to balance energy ambitions with environmental stewardship and diplomatic stability in one of the world’s most strategically important river basins.
