New dams start in China

Construction of the CNY 28.9 billion (US$ 3.7 billion) Xiangjiaba Hydropower Project, in southwest China’s Sichuan province has started, reports state news agency China Daily.

When complete in 2015 the dam, which is situated on the lower reaches of the Jinshajiang River will have 6 GW of installed capacity. This will be combined with the 12.6 GW Xiluodu project, started further downstream 11 months ago, and also scheduled to finish in 2015, making it the equivalent of the country’s 18.2 GW Three Gorges Dam project.

Chinese environmentalists and international conservation groups have argued that damming the river would damage the local environment, threaten the area’s distinctive plants and animals and flood fertile land.

It could also wipe out fish species whose migration routes to traditional breeding grounds will be blocked.