China has begun construction on what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower dam, located on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The new project, known as the Motuo Hydropower Station, will eclipse the Three Gorges Dam in both size and capacity.
Chinese officials mentioned that the station is expected to generate nearly three times more electricity than its predecessor, underscoring China’s growing ambitions in renewable energy and regional control. The project brings together all elements of the phrase “China world’s largest dam”—massive infrastructure, global scale, and deep geopolitical implications.
Premier Li Qiang led the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, as reported by state media outlet Xinhua. The ceremony marks the beginning of a long-term project estimated to cost 1.2 trillion yuan ($167 billion), with construction taking place in a remote area of southeastern Tibet where the river makes a dramatic U-turn around Namcha Barwa mountain, a region geologists call “the Great Bend.”
Engineering scale and national energy goals
Chinese engineers plan to divert the river through a network of long tunnels carved into the mountain. The redirected flow will feed five cascading power stations along the route.
While Beijing says the electricity will help meet national energy needs—particularly for eastern industrial hubs—it also promises a portion will benefit local Tibetan communities.
The Yarlung Tsangpo, Tibet’s longest river, flows into India and Bangladesh, feeding into the Siang, Brahmaputra, and Jamuna rivers. Officials in both neighboring countries have expressed concern about the dam’s potential to alter river flow and trigger environmental disruptions downstream.
China has just announced the start of construction of the world’s largest infrastructure project ever.
A huge hydropower dam will be built on the Yarlung River in Tibet for $140 billion.
It will produce 3-5 times more electricity than the 3 Gorges Dam & will cover the energy… pic.twitter.com/c2mO7pRHj9
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 20, 2025
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed in January that it had raised objections with China. The ministry emphasized the need for transparency and consultation, stressing that the interests of downstream nations must be protected.
India and Bangladesh raise concerns
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu warned that the dam could significantly reduce water levels in the Siang and Brahmaputra, threatening agriculture, livelihoods, and tribal communities. He described the project as a possible “existential threat” to indigenous groups and said a sudden release of water could have devastating consequences.
In response, India has announced plans to build its own hydropower dam on the Siang River to serve as a buffer against any sudden changes in water discharge from upstream.
Bangladesh, too, has sought clarification. Officials confirmed that a formal request for information was sent to Beijing in February, citing fears over reduced water flow and ecological harm.
Strategic goals clash with environmental and human rights risks
The project aligns with President Xi Jinping’s “xidiandongsong” policy—transferring electricity from China’s resource-rich west to its energy-hungry eastern cities. Chinese state media has framed the effort as a dual win: reducing carbon emissions and boosting Tibet’s economy.
Yet environmentalists and rights groups view the development differently. Conservationists warn that the dam threatens ecologically sensitive areas rich in biodiversity and prone to earthquakes.
Human rights advocates cite past protests over similar projects, including a 2023 incident in which hundreds of Tibetans were reportedly detained and beaten during demonstrations against another hydropower facility.
Beijing maintains it has a “legitimate right” to develop the river and claims it has considered downstream impacts. Still, the scale and location of the Motuo project continues to draw international scrutiny as construction moves forward.
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