Earthquake risks be river dammed: Big brother to Three Gorges Dam may be built this year in Sichuan and Yunnan as seismic warnings swept aside
Hydroelectric power stations set for approval despite concerns of experts
Two controversial hydroelectric power stations over the Jinsha River are to be approved and start construction this year, People's Daily reported yesterday.
When completed, the 10.2GW Wudongde and 16GW Baihetan hydropower projects in Yunnan and Sichuan, together with the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu hydroelectric power stations which began generating last year, will produce twice as much power as the Three Gorges Dam.
Xinhua said Sichuan and Yunnan had approved residents' resettlement plans for the Wudongde and Baihetan plants, while the Ministry of Environmental Protection had approved the evaluation reports.
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China Three Gorges Corporation is behind all four stations, and has been pushing for the approval of Wudongde and Baihetan since the others came online.
When finished, Baihetan will be the second largest - and Wudongde the fourth largest - power station in China.
A recent evaluation of the plan for the Wudongde station concluded it was fit for submission to the National Development and Reform Commission, and to the State Council for final approval.