Last Saturday, the Three Gorges project in the Chinese mainland celebrated its 5-year anniversary since overall completion! 🎉 This engineering marvel on the Yangtze River has become a game-changer for flood control, clean energy, water security, and shipping.
🌊 Flood control: By working hand-in-hand with upstream reservoirs, the dam has intercepted over 29 billion m³ of floodwater, dramatically cutting risks in the river’s middle and lower reaches. No small feat when heavy rains hit!
⚡ Clean energy: The Three Gorges power plant has pumped out more than 423 billion kWh of electricity—enough to save roughly 128 million tonnes of standard coal and slash CO₂ emissions by 347 million tonnes. Talk about a green boost! 🌱
💧 Water supply: Dry seasons are no match for this titan. In the last five years, it’s released 82.4 billion m³ of water downstream, supporting industries, homes, and the river’s delicate ecosystems.
🚢 Shipping upgrade: Trade along the Yangtze River is booming. Cargo through the locks surpassed 700 million tonnes, and annual freight rocketed above 150 million tonnes for three years straight—peaking at 168 million tonnes in 2023. The ship lift has whisked over 1.7 million passengers and 15 million tonnes of goods! 🚀
🔧 A quick look back: Since 1994, this mega-project has grown into a complete water-control system featuring a 2,309 m-long, 185 m-high dam, twin five-tier ship locks, and 34 turbo-generators with a combined capacity of 22.5 million kW.
Five years post-completion, the Three Gorges project continues to power the future, protect communities, and fuel growth. 🌟
Reference(s):
Five years on, Three Gorges project delivers all-round benefits
cgtn.com
