The Three Gorges Dam project was a major engineering undertaking in China, with the main goal of constructing the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River. The project was officially approved by the Chinese government in 1992 and began construction in 2003. It is expected to be completed in 2021.
The Three Gorges Dam project was born out of a desire to reduce flooding in the Yangtze River Basin. The area had experienced centuries of devastating floods, killing thousands of people and causing massive economic and social damages. In addition to providing a safe haven for flood control, the Three Gorges Dam project also aimed to improve navigation conditions by increasing water depth at strategic points along the Yangtze River. The massive dam would also create a large reservoir and provide an immensely powerful source of renewable energy production in the form of hydroelectricity.
The main purpose of the Three Gorges Dam project was to reduce the risk of flooding along the Yangtze River. By creating a reservoir of about 600KM2, the project would enable the Chinese government to regulate water flows during heavy rainfalls or faster melting snow periods and avoid catastrophic floods. The dam would also be regulated to allow for normal seasonal flooding in order to replenish soil nutrients and maintain alluvial deposits.
In addition to reducing flood risks, the Three Gorges Dam project also promised to improve navigation conditions in the Yangtze River. It was estimated that before the dam, ship navigation on the river was restricted to only 66% of its course due to low water levels. By creating a deeper reservoir and introducing a system of sluices to regulate water flow around the narrow gorges, the project would increase the navigable length up to 97%. This would significantly reduce travel time from one end to the other, as well as allowing for larger vessels to access the Yangtze River.
The Three Gorges Dam project was also seen as a way to increase energy production in China for both domestic consumption and export. Hydroelectricity provides an important source of renewable energy, and the massive dam would be able to produce about 84 gigawatts of power — equivalent to 18 coal-fired power plants. This amount of electricity would benefit millions of people in China, and could even help the country reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2060.
In addition to the direct benefits of the project, there were also some indirect benefits. For example, the reservoir created by the dam was expected to raise the water table of nearby farmlands and result in improved crop yields. This, in turn, was seen as a way to help alleviate poverty in the region by providing a stable source of income for those living there.
The Three Gorges Dam project was a massive undertaking, with a final estimated cost of over $50 billion. Despite the high cost, it was argued that its benefits would outweigh the cost in the long term, with increased safety, improved navigation, increased energy production, and other benefits. As of 2021, the project is still ongoing and will likely continue to have a profound impact on the people and environment of China for years to come.