China has started building the world’s largest hydropower project in Tibet’s Yarlung Zangbo River gorge, aiming to boost clean energy output and meet its climate goals.

China on Saturday began construction of what is set to become the largest hydropower station on the planet, located in the rugged Yarlung Zangbo River gorge in the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region. Premier Li Qiang officially inaugurated the project at a groundbreaking ceremony in the city of Nyingchi, underlining the national significance of the development.

Li described the hydropower station as a "project of the century" and urged the use of cutting-edge technologies, advanced materials, and innovative engineering methods to ensure the project’s high-quality execution.

The facility, once completed, is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually—more than triple the output of China’s current largest dam, the Three Gorges, which produces around 88.2 billion kWh. The massive project will comprise five cascade hydropower stations and is backed by an estimated investment of 1.2 trillion yuan, or approximately $167.8 billion.

Officials, engineers, and residents from the region were present at the ceremony, highlighting the project’s strategic importance. According to government sources, the hydropower complex will serve as a major asset in China’s long-term energy planning and is expected to support the country's ambitions to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

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