China, July22,2025:The China Hydropower Dam project, as envisioned, will surpass even the famed Three Gorges Dam.
China’s Dam Ambitions
China Hydropower Dam plans are again raising eyebrows globally. With the groundbreaking ceremony recently led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, China has begun construction on the world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibet’s Nyingchi region — near the sensitive India-China border.
Named the Motuo Hydropower Station, this $167 billion infrastructure project could reshape South Asia’s water dynamics and cause downstream disruptions affecting millions in India and Bangladesh.
World’s Largest Hydropower Project
The China Hydropower Dam project, as envisioned, will surpass even the famed Three Gorges Dam — currently the world’s biggest in terms of energy output. Once operational, it’s expected to generate three times more electricity than the Three Gorges.
Located on the Yarlung Tsangpo river (known as the Brahmaputra in India), the project includes five cascade-style hydropower stations, tapping the river’s steep gradient for maximum output.
This ambitious dam was first hinted at in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, and President Xi Jinping’s 2021 visit to Tibet solidified the political will behind it.
Quick Facts:
- Cost: 1.2 trillion yuan (~$167 billion)
- Power Output: Estimated to be triple of the Three Gorges Dam
- Location: Nyingchi Prefecture, near Arunachal Pradesh border
- Completion Target: Unknown, but early construction has begun
Environmental Concerns Around the Dam
While the China Hydropower Dam promises clean energy and reduced carbon reliance, environmentalists are sounding alarms.
Environmental Risks:
- Displacement of Tibetan communities in biodiversity-rich zones
- Flooding of deep valleys, some of the world’s most ecologically diverse
- Increased seismic risk — the region lies in a high-risk earthquake zone
Even though Chinese authorities claim the project prioritizes “ecological harmony,” satellite images and media reports point to disregard for local consultation, with protesters detained in previous hydropower disputes.
Strategic Risks to India and Bangladesh
The China Hydropower Dam is not just an environmental issue — it’s a geopolitical flashpoint.
The Yarlung Tsangpo flows from Tibet into Arunachal Pradesh (India) as the Siang, then becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam, and finally enters Bangladesh as the Jamuna.
India’s Concerns:
- China could control water flows, affecting agriculture and drinking water
- Potential use of the dam as a “water bomb” — sudden water releases could devastate lower areas
- Security threats in Arunachal Pradesh, a region China claims as “South Tibet”
In a recent interview, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu said:
“If China suddenly releases water, the Siang region could be annihilated. It’s an existential threat.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs in January 2025 expressed formal concerns and demanded transparency and consultation, but Beijing maintains that it has the right to exploit Tibetan rivers.
Local and International Reactions
India:
- Arunachal Pradesh politicians warned of strategic manipulation of river flow
- Congress Party criticized the Modi government’s silence
- Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma downplayed fears, claiming 70% of Brahmaputra’s flow originates within India
Bangladesh:
- Sent a formal letter to China requesting project details
- Worried about freshwater availability and flooding during monsoons
Experts Speak:
A Lowy Institute report warned in 2020 that:
“Control over Tibetan rivers gives China significant leverage over India’s economy.”
Hydro-politics is now emerging as a new battleground in already tense India-China relations.
What Lies Ahead? India’s Counter Strategy
India isn’t sitting idle. The Indian government has initiated its own hydropower project on the Siang River to regulate downstream flow and safeguard against China’s water policies.
India’s Dam Strategy:
- Proposed multi-billion rupee dam in Arunachal Pradesh
- Objective: Flood prevention, energy generation, and water security
- Part of a broader effort to establish riparian resilience
Environmental groups in India, however, caution against reactive dam-building, urging for diplomatic water-sharing agreements instead.
A Turning Point in River Diplomacy
The China Hydropower Dam project is a landmark engineering feat — but also a litmus test for regional cooperation in transboundary river governance.
With India and Bangladesh raising concerns, the world watches closely as water becomes an increasingly strategic resource. What was once a tool for development may soon evolve into a geopolitical weapon if transparent, equitable frameworks aren’t put in place.
For now, the Motuo Hydropower Station symbolizes both China’s clean energy ambition and a potential fault line in South Asia’s fragile river diploma
