The Baihetan plant is to be built at a cost of US$6.3B and be situated on the lower reaches of the Jinsha river, an upstream branch of the Yangtze river. It will accompany three other hydro facilities – Xiludo, Wudongde and Xiangjiaba.

When completed in 2015, the station will be China’s third largest hydro scheme (after the 18,200MW Three Gorges and 12,600MW Xiluodu projects), producing 50BkWh/yr. The first unit is due online in 2012.