In Tibet, four dams are at risk of bursting

Photo:Depositphotos

China has confirmed that four dams suffered serious damage after the earthquake in Tibet. Experts have warned for many years that it is not advisable to build dams in an area prone to frequent earthquakes and one of the most remote areas of the world. Of the total number of dams in Tibet, only one fifth is used and these face seismic risks.

The earthquake struck in the Tingri district which is the northern gateway to the Mount Everest region. China plans to build the world's largest dam. The project itself reveals that the dam is to be more than three times larger than the giant Three Gorges Dam. As a result it should provide 34 gigawatts of clean energy.

Hydro projects in remote areas highlight the tension between construction risks and rising demand for clean energy in China and India. Currently both countries are the largest producers of greenhouse gases in the world.

Earthquakes and frequent landslides have damaged dams in Tibet in the past. After a massive earthquake in 2015, almost a fifth of hydropower was shut down for more than a year. Experts agree that building more dams in Tibet is not sustainable.

China has also expressed concerns about older dams that were built in the 1950s and 1970s. Almost eighty percent of them are in the region. The Chinese ministry only said that the Motuo project had been rigorously tested for disaster prevention and mitigation. China is defending the project, saying it will play a big role in achieving carbon neutrality while stimulating the economy and creating jobs. Hydropower generation is more reliable and flexible than intermittent wind and solar power.

Source:Reuters