Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Three Gorges Project to raise water level to 175 meters
Adjust font size:

Chinese authorities announced on Wednesday the Three Gorges Project water level would be raised to 175 meters, a milestone in its construction, in mid-September.

Chinese authorities announced on Wednesday the Three Gorges Project water level would be raised to 175 meters, a milestone in its construction, in mid-September. Photo August 31, 2008

Chinese authorities announced on September 10 that the Three Gorges Project water level would be raised to 175 meters, a milestone in its construction, in mid-September. Photo August 31, 2008

Both the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee, and China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC), the developer of the massive water control facility on the Yangtze, didn't give an exact date for doing so.

The monitored water level was 145.84 meters as of 10 AM on Wednesday, said a CTGPC source.

The Three Gorges Project, launched in 1993 with a budget equivalent to US$22.5 billion, is a multi-functional water control system built at the upper middle reaches of the country's longest river.

Its main works are a dam, a five-tier ship lock, as well as the installation of 26 hydropower turbo-generators.Its key functions include flood control and power generation.

The project has been constructed in three phases and storing water at the 175 meter level is a requirement it should meet when it completes the last phase of construction.

All the main works of the project were finished late last month after 16 years of efforts, said the CTGPC source.

A special committee assigned with the task to carry out inspection over the third phase of construction with the State Council, China's Cabinet, checked the main works of the project, and resettlement of residents earlier this year. It concluded in early August the project was fully qualified for storing water at 175 meters above sea level.

The Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Designs Institute affiliated to the Ministry of Water Resources also testified the sluices set in the massive dam were safe for operation.

Altogether, 1.24 million residents in Chongqing and Hubei Province were relocated to make way for construction of the project as of June.

In accordance with an original plan, the Three Gorges called for the 26 generators, 14 on the left bank and 12 on the right, to produce 84.7 billion kwh of electricity annually upon its completion.

It will expand further to include six more turbines by 2012.

The 26 planned power generation turbines will be completed in November as the installation of the last one nears the end, the project developers said on Monday.

The Three Gorges project has generated nearly 260 billion kwh of electricity as of Monday since its first generator started operation in July 2003.

The electricity generated by the project fuels 15 provinces in central, eastern and southern China, easing a severe power shortage in industrial regions.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Three Gorges project to begin full operation in November
- Three Gorges Dam to begin full operation
- Chongqing achieves 2.45bln in Olympic tourism revenue
- Three Gorges Dam water level to reach maximum
- Three Gorges Dam sluices flood water
- Three Gorges Dam starts discharging water
Most Viewed >>
- 10 rare flowers and plants in the world
- Stay with the giant panda
- City takes out trash with color-coded bins
- Course of environmental protection compulsory in AHNU
- 3 lion-tiger cubs weaned in Nanjing
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai sulfur dioxide II
Guangzhou particulate matter II
Chongqing particulate matter II
Xi'an particulate matter II
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Environmental English Training (EET) class
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
More
Archives
Sichuan Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Sichuan Province at 2:28 PM on May 12.

Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base