China’s Three Gorges project was launched in 1993 and is projected to be completed by November 2009. With a budget of $22.5 billion, the project is also a water control system for the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Its functions comprises of power generation, flood control and navigation.
Main works of the project also comprise of a 185-meter-high dam, a five-tier ship lock and 26 hydropower turbo-generators. Installed capacity of the 26 generators that have all gone operational totals 18.2 million kW, as reported by the company.
CTGPC further expanded its plans to comprise six more underground turbines by 2012.
The electricity produced by the project supplies 15 areas in central, eastern and southern China, easing a severe power shortage in industrial areas.
