The second of Yunnan’s cascade of eight Mekong (Lancang) river hydro projects is now due to come on stream in December 2002. It is the 1350MW Dachaoshan dam , 35km downstream from the 1500MW Manwan dam.

With gross head of 74m and active storage of 240million m3, the 188m-high concrete gravity dam will produce 7000 GWh/yr, replacing coal fired plant. Its 260km 500kV transmission line will serve Kunming. The 1500MW Jinghong project will be the next completed, in 2006.