China - 3 Gorges Dam

What are the aims of the dam?

• To control flooding on the Yangtze river

• To generate HEP, max. 22500 MW

• To improve water supply

• To make the river navigable.

How many people does the Yangtze river support?

400 million people

What is the cost of the dam?

$30 billion

How many jobs are created for the construction of the dam?

40,000 jobs

How many people were displaced due to the dam?

1.4 million have been relocated from 1500 villages, 13 cities (the people were ‘compensated’ - insufficiently)

How much land has been flooded to form the reservoir?

632km squared

Why is the quality of water low?

Due to waste from industry, sewage and farms

What is the impact of decomposition of plants on the dam?

Decomposing vegetation from flooded villages produces methane which is released through HEP turbines

Where is the Three Gorges Dam

Hubei

Dimensions

2.3km long

181m in height

How do ships get over the dam?

Ship-lift

Economic benefits from shipping

• Decrease shipping prices

• Freight capacity of the Yangtze increased x6

• 23000 vessels passed through in 2023

Disadvantages

• Displaced 1.4 million

• Over 1000 historical sites flooded

• Releases large amounts of methane

• Landslides are common around the reservoir

• Wildlife decreased in area

• Disrupted fish migration patterns

• 2020 monsoons were not managed well with the dam, leading to flooding and 150 deaths

• Risk of collapse (also a risk of flooding to Shanghai and Wuhan)

Itaipu Dam (Brazil) outperforming

• Outperforms Three Gorges even though smaller (20 generators v. 32 generators)

• Has sustained powerful flow of water (previously a waterfall)

• Three Gorges is seasonal