China is speeding up the exploitation of hydroelectricity in its western region to make the world’s largest hydropower generating capacity. The project to build a hydropower station with a generating capacity of 3.6 millionkW on the Yalong River, in southwestern China’s Sichuan Province, passed an evaluation by experts from the State Development and Reform Commission. The country has also launched five projects to build large hydropower stations in the west, such as on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, the Hongshui River, the Lancang-MekongRiver and the Dadu River, in the past two years. The nation’s hydropower generating capacity would increase by at least 10 million kW annually by 2005. By the year 2010, China would have a generating capacity of hydropower of 125 million kW, the highest in the world. The country plans to exploit 40% of its hydropower resources by 2015, according to a government plan. The hydropower station named Jinping, the first of five stations on the Yalong River, will have a dam 305 meters high, claimed to be the world’s highest. With an investment of USD 2.66 billion, Jinping power station will play a supporting role for the Ertan hydropower station, the largest power station in Asia until it is overtaken by the Three Gorges Project which is due to be completed in 2009.
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