Three Gorges Dam Project Poses ‘Urgent’ Problems, China Admits
May 21st, 2011 by 
The Chinese government has issued a statement admitting that the controversial Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower plant and a centerpiece engineering project for the nation, has numerous problems that are “urgently in need of resolution.”
In the statement, the state council acknowledged that the 600-foot-tall dam, completed in 2006 on the Yangtze River to provide a new source of renewable energy, has produced troubling ecological, human, and geological impacts downriver.
The 1.5-mile barrier produces the electricity equivalent of about 500 Chinese coal-fired power plants, but that energy production has come at enormous human and environmental costs. In addition to the relocation of 1.4 million people and the flooding of more than 1,000 towns and villages, the project has triggered pollution-fueled algae blooms in the reservoir area, landslides, and erosion of slopes.
“Problems emerged at various stages of project planning and construction but could not be solved immediately, and some arose because of increased demands brought on by economic and social development,” the statement says. The government offered no specific plans to address the problems.
Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.
|
|
Tags:  energy production environmental costs hydropower plant power plants Renewable Energy Three Gorges Dam | [ Permalink ] |
When one modify the natural arrangement of the systems, complications are unavoidable due complexity of side effects. On the other hand, what is the cost of the alternative?
Think about nature itself, when volcano erupts (which is a natural event) how many get effected and there is no benefit, just a disaster.
Nothing wrong with people taking advantage and arranging nature to benefit. If you think otherwise, offer alternative.
My company can help, manufacturing eco-friendly products and parts in China.