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China has embarked on an ambitious and highly secretive hydropower project in the Himalayan region of Tibet, aiming to create the largest electricity-generating system in the world. Valued at $168 billion, the project is expected to surpass the output of the Three Gorges Dam and support China’s push toward clean energy for electric vehicles, AI technology, and industrial growth.
The project is located along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, where a steep 2,000-meter descent over 50 kilometers provides enormous hydropower potential. It will involve multiple dams, reservoirs, and underground power stations connected by tunnels, harnessing energy from diverted portions of the river. Construction officially began in July 2025, and Chinese officials have emphasized environmental and engineering safeguards.
Despite assurances from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the project will not harm downstream areas, concerns remain. Tens of millions rely on the river in India and Bangladesh, where environmental impacts on ecosystems, fishing, and farming are largely unknown. Experts also warn that the region’s seismic activity, landslides, and glacial outbursts could pose risks to the infrastructure and nearby populations.
The project also involves relocation of tens of thousands of Tibetans, including indigenous groups like the Monpa and Lhoba, to make way for construction and related infrastructure. Social media posts and local reports indicate that villagers have been moved closer to the de facto China-India border, raising concerns about cultural and community disruption.
Experts describe the project as a technological marvel and a geopolitical maneuver, linking China’s energy ambitions with territorial control in sensitive border areas. While the hydropower system could aid global climate efforts, the environmental, social, and geopolitical stakes make it one of the world’s most ambitious—and controversial—engineering projects.
