Shuangjiangkou Dam will be built

Controversial hydroelectric dam could impact plants and rare fish.

When completed 10 years from now, the dam will become the world’s tallest hydroelectric dam. China's environment ministry has given its approval for the construction of the dam despite admitting the dam ". . . will harm nature but we will build it all the same.”

The dam is located on the Dadu River in Sichuan. It will be built by state-owned power firm Guodian Group and will cost some US$4.02 billion.

Shuangjiangkou will have a total installed capacity of 20 gigawatts with annual power generation to exceed 7 billion kilowatt hours.

Once completed, Shuangjiangkou will stand 314 meters high compared to the controversial Three Gorges Dam at 185 meters. The current highest man-made dam in China is the Xiaowan Dam on the Lancang River at 292 meters.

Hydroelectric power is expected to make the largest contribution to China’s non-fossil fuel energy sources by 2020, with the total share of renewable energy supply expected to rise to 15% from 9.4% in 2011.

China said that hydropower capacity will reach 290 GW by 2015, up from 220 GW at the end of 2010.