China begins construction of mega dam on Brahmaputra river in Tibet

China has begun construction of a massive dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known as Brahmaputra in India, with Premier Li Qiang attending the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, according to state media.

The project, located in southeastern Tibet’s Nyingchi region, was approved in December and is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to meet carbon neutrality goals and accelerate economic development in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

According to state news agency Xinhua, the electricity generated from the dam will primarily be transmitted to other regions across China, while also meeting local energy demands in Tibet.

The project is expected to be one of China’s largest hydropower undertakings, potentially surpassing the scale of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. It involves the construction of five hydropower stations and carries an estimated investment of around 1.2 trillion yuan (approximately $167 billion).

India, which lies downstream of the river, expressed concerns earlier this year about the possible impact of the project.

In January, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that it had conveyed its concerns to China and would “monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests.” New Delhi has called on Beijing to ensure that downstream interests are not adversely affected by upstream developments.

In response, China’s foreign ministry said in December that the project would not have any “negative impact” on downstream regions and emphasized that it would maintain communication with affected countries, including India and Bangladesh.

Environmental groups have also raised alarms about the ecological consequences of large-scale infrastructure projects in the fragile ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau, warning of potential irreversible damage.

The development comes amid broader tensions between China and India, who share a disputed border along the Himalayan region. Both nations maintain a significant military presence along the frontier, where confrontations have occurred in recent years.