Location: Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei province
Height: 181 meters
Expected investment: 203.9 billion renminbi (US$24.65 billion)
Number migrants: 1.13 million
Installed power generation capacity: 18.2 million kilowatts
Functions: Flood control, power generation, improved navigation
Construction timetable (source: China Daily Business Weekly):
- 1993-1997: Yangtze River diverted after four years November 1997
- 1998-2003: first batch generators will begin generate power 2003 permanent ship lock scheduled open navigation same year.
- 2004-2009: entire project completed 2009 when 26 generators will able generate power.
Fund sources (source: China Daily Business Weekly):
- The Three Gorges Dam Construction Fund
- Revenue Gezhouba Power Plant
- Policy loans China Development Bank
- Loans domestic foreign commercial banks
- Corporate bonds
History
Early debates
Sun Yatsen first proposed building dam on Yangtze River 1919 power generation purposes, but idea shelved due unfavorable political economic conditions. Major floods resurrected idea government adopted 1954 flood control.
Vice minister Electric Power Li Rui initially argued dam should multipurpose, smaller dams should built first until China could afford such costly project construction should proceed stages allow time solve technical problems, according Chinese issues scholars Kenneth Lieberthal Michel Oksenberg.
Later, Li Rui concluded dam should not built since would too costly. He added dam would flood many cities fertile farmland, subject middle lower reaches river catastrophic flooding during construction would not contribute much shipping. Sichuan province officials objected construction since Sichuan, located upstream, would shoulder most costs downstream Hubei province would receive most benefits.
Lin Yishan, head Yangtze Valley Planning Office, which charge project, favored dam construction, however. optimism about resolving technical problems further encouraged 1958 favorable political climate support late chairman Mao Zedong, who wanted China have largest hydroelectric dam world, according Lieberthal Oksenberg. Criticisms were suppressed. But depression resulted disastrous Great Leap Forward (a political campaign boasting China's economic development) ended preparation work 1960.
The idea resurfaced 1963 part new policies build "third front" industry southwest China. But Cultural Revolution erupted 1966, 1969 fear dam would sabotaged Soviet Union, now an enemy, resulted construction delay. 1970 work resumed on Gezhouba, smaller dam downstream, but soon ran into severe technical problems cost overruns seemed likely plague Three Gorges Dam on an even larger scale.
The economic reforms introduced 1978 underlined need more electric power supply growing industrial base, so State Council approved construction 1979. A feasibility study conducted 1982 1983 appease increasing number critics, who complained project did not adequately address technical, social, nor environmental issues.
According Lieberthal Oksenberg, leaders Chongqing demanded suddenly dam height raised so substantially would cripple project free them bearing brunt costs. new height demand more reliable study with use international standards resulted new feasibility study 1986. But few scientists dared sign off on project had already been approved.
Ecologist Hou Xueyu among few who refused sign environmental report because falsely hyped environmental benefits provided dam, failed convey real extent environmental impact lacked adequate solutions environmental concerns.
Environmentalists home abroad began protest more vociferously. Human rights advocates criticized resettlement plan. Archeologists balked submergence huge number historical sites. Many mourned loss some world's finest scenery.
Increasing numbers engineers doubted whether dam would actually achieve its stated purposes. Chinese journalist/engineer Dai Qing published book relentless critiques project Chinese scientists. Yet many foreign construction companies continued press their governments financially support construction hopes winning contracts.
The project approved
In face lot domestic international pressure, State Council agreed March 1989 suspend construction plans five years. After Tiananmen Square massacre June 1989, however, government forbade public debate dam, accused foreign critics ignorance intent undermine regime, imprisoned Dai Qing other famous critics.
Former Premier Li Peng crusaded dam pushed through National People's Congress April 1992 despite opposition abstention one-third delegates. Such actions were unprecedented body usually rubberstamped government proposals.
Resettlement soon began, physical preparations started 1994. While government solicited technology, services, hardware financing abroad, leaders reserved engineering construction contracts Chinese firms.
But corruption scandals plagued project. believed contractors have won bids through bribery then skimped on equipment materials siphon off construction funds. head Three Gorges Economic Development Corp. allegedly sold jobs company, took out project-related loans disappeared with money May 2000. Officials Three Gorges Resettlement Bureau were caught embezzling funds resettlement programs January 2000.
Much project's infrastructure so shoddy Premier Zhu Rongji ordered rip out 1999 after number high-profile accidents. To offset construction costs, project officials had quietly changed operating plan approved NPC fill reservoir after six years rather than 10. response, 53 engineers academics petitioned President Jiang Zemin twice first half 2000 delay full filling reservoir relocating local population until scientists could determine whether higher reservoir viable given sedimentation problems. But construction continued.
Debate over dam
Cost: project thought have cost more than any other single construction project history, with unofficial estimates high US$75 billion more. Supporters reported, however, plan within its US$25 billion budget insisted early on project would pay itself through electricity generation. To some, seems unlikely given current market electricity produced Gezhouba dam, which supposed partially finance project, result glut electricity closure many state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Supporters further argued demand would rise once new national transmission grid place. But those Probe International, Canada-based organization opposed dam, believe time demand has climbed, competition cheaper, superior alternatives will have drawn away ratepayers. Unless are forced buy Three Gorges power, unless government subsidizes power indirectly passes cost onto taxpayers, will impossible recoup investment project, which will then go bankrupt, critics added.
Meanwhile, critics fear other projects need investment will suffer China throws its resources into one big boondoggle. Experts believe project faces shortage funds, especially since many foreign financiers governments, with some notable exceptions, have considered dam too risky get involved.
Resettlement: In 1980s, China passed regulations protect rights those displaced dam projects assure them adequate compensation. But human rights activists asserted rural dwellers are being discriminated, are not being consulted about their eviction, are often crowded onto poor land with unsatisfactory living conditions few job opportunities, are not being taught new job skills, corruption diverting funds meant compensate them, their local culture threatened government has provided channels them express dissatisfaction.
But supporters denied these charges pointed out how lives property those 15 million people living downstream would improved reduction devastating floods extra electricity supply, which expected stimulate local economy, provide more jobs improve standard living.
Environment: Dam defenders point environmental benefits given dam, such availability hydroelectric power, which much cleaner than coal burning China has relied heavily decades. They believe dam will reduce greenhouse gas emissions reducing coal burning (thereby protecting ozone layer) have none radiation hazards nuclear plants.
Critics pointed out, however, new, cheaper alternatives such gas-fueled combined cycle plants co-generators produce virtually pollution greenhouse gases. They added water pollution would increase power Yangtze, which helps flush pollutants dumped factories on riverbanks, reduced more factories are relocated edge reservoir. But dam defenders said would prevent pollution critics alleged officials had merely told ships stop dumping sewage.
Opponents said dam would alter current ecosystem threaten habitats various endangered species fish, waterfowl other animals. They added project would necessitate extensive logging area erode much coastline. But dam defenders pointed measures such fish ladders being taken address these issues, which some critics believed would ineffective.
Local culture natural beauty: Opponents said 600-kilometer (370 mile) long reservoir would inundate some 1,300 archeological sites, destroy legendary beauty Three Gorges thereby substantially reduce tourism revenue. Dam defenders said, however, many cultural historical relics are being moved higher ground rise water level would not affect scenery much critics claimed.
Navigation: Dam defenders asserted project, which involves installation ship locks, would increase river shipping 10 million 50 million tons annually, with transportation costs cut 30 37 percent. Shipping would become safer although gorges have been notoriously dangerous navigate. Critics argued, however, heavy siltation would clog ports such Chongqing within few years based on evidence other dam projects.
Power generation: A major justification dam power will generate its 26 700-megawatt turbine generators, which equals energy produced 18 nuclear plants burning 40 million tons coal. power sent through transmission lines mostly eastern central China solve energy shortages there, where economic development being held back.
As China's per capita energy consumption only one-third world average, 60 million rural dwellers now lack electricity, market potential vast, said dam defenders, who have touted inexpensiveness hydroelectricity compared other traditional power generation technologies.
But critics Probe International argued now an oversupply electricity area because closure many SOEs since 1998, availability power existing hydroelectric dams rapid expansion China's power-generating capacity 10,000-megawatts annually.
Moreover, even after demand recovers, ratepayers decentralized energy market will defect new, more technologically sophisticated alternatives, such energy provided combined cycle plants, which are cleaner, cheaper, safer, more reliable, uses less fuel, promises faster returns on investment, requires less capital investment, does not require an expensive long-distance transmission system, permits greater local control over electricity supply investment, adapts easily rapid changes energy needs carries risk black outs. other words, hydro-dams are already obsolete.
The experts predicted market combined cycle plants could take off five years once natural gas supplies are adequate, gas prices are allowed rise reflect real costs ratepayers are charged transmission costs, which will increase cost consumers electricity supplied dam. But dam defenders believed alternatives would not able outstand hydroelectricity moment.
Flood control: Dam defenders now emphasize dam's contribution flood control, averring reservoir's 22.1 billion cubic meter (28.9 billion cubic yard) flood storage capacity will lessen frequency big downstream floods once every 10 years once every 100 years. But critics believe Yangtze will add 530 million tons silt into reservoir on average per year will soon useless preventing floods. Furthermore, dam could never prevent floods on downstream tributaries. Worse, increased sedimentation resulting dam could increase already high flood level Chongqing.
Others said such large dam would increase seismic activity area consequent earthquake could burst dam, especially if construction faulty. But dam defenders said risk remote.
Probe International asserted dam does not address real source flooding, which loss forest cover Yangtze watershed loss 13,000 square km lakes (which had greatly helped alleviate floods) due siltation, reclamation uncontrolled development. Instead dam, recommended dykes channel improvements, overflow area designation, better zoning, flood proofing flood warning systems.
Table: Summary arguments favor against dam
| Issue | Criticism | Defense |
| Cost | The dam will far exceed official cost estimate, investment will unrecoverable cheaper power sources become available lure away ratepayers. | The dam within budget, updating transmission grid will increase demand its electricity allow dam pay itself. |
| Resettlement | Relocated people are worse off than before their human rights are being violated. | 15 million people downstream will better off due electricity flood control. |
| Environment | Water pollution deforestation will increase, coastline will eroded altered ecosystem will further endanger many species. | Hydroelectric power cleaner than coal burning safer than nuclear plants, steps will taken protect environment. |
| Local culture natural beauty | The reservoir will flood many historical sites ruin legendary scenery gorges local tourism industry. | Many historical relics are being moved, scenery will not change much. |
| Navigation | Heavy siltation will clog ports within few years negate improvements navigation. | Shipping will become faster, cheaper safer rapid waters are tamed ship locks are installed. |
| Power generation | Technological advancements have made hydrodams obsolete, decentralized energy market will allow ratepayers switch cheaper, cleaner power supplies. | The alternatives are not viable yet huge potential demand relatively cheap hydroelectricity. |
| Flood control | Siltation will decrease flood storage capacity, dam will not prevent floods on tributaries, more effective flood control solutions are available. | The huge flood storage capacity will lessen frequency major floods. risk dam will increase flooding remote. |
Political motives
Given evidence dam may not achieve its stated aims may fact cause irreparable damages, many critics wonder why Chinese government continues project. Their conclusion seems primary motive political. dam would world's largest hydroelectric dam, which would confer prestige on China confirm its technological prowess superiority socialism.
The dam seems have been shepherded along hardliners, who would presumably have their power reinforced completion dam. Bureaucratic regional politics may play role agencies charge building dam provinces believe will benef dam outmaneuver their opponents. Corruption may involved well. But whatever reason, project seems have generated its own momentum, further along gets, harder would stop.
