China Begins Construction Of Mega-Dam On Brahmaputra River In Tibet

On 19 July 2025, China officially began the construction of a USD 167.8 billion Hydropower dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the commencement at a groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi City, located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo (the local name for the Brahmaputra in Tibet), according to official Chinese media.

This ambitious mega infrastructure project is described as the largest of its kind in the world, both in terms of scale and impact. The dam will be built at the “Great Bend” of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Medog County, where the river makes a dramatic U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), signifying its long-term strategic and developmental importance.

Project Scope and Scale

The massive hydropower development will consist of five cascade hydropower stations and involve a total investment of approximately 1.2 trillion Yuan (USD 167.8 billion).

The five cascade hydropower stations are five sequential dams built along the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River in Tibet. Each uses the water released by the one before it to generate electricity. This method maximizes the hydropower potential of a steep river, especially in a mountainous area, but also raises serious environmental and geopolitical concerns for countries downstream.

When completed, these stations are expected to generate more than 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This output is enough to meet the power needs of over 300 million people—a figure that exceeds the capacity of China's current largest hydro project, the Three Gorges Dam.

According to a 2023 report, the planned capacity of this new project is a staggering 60,000 megawatts (MW)—three times that of the Three Gorges Dam, which currently holds the record as the world's largest hydroelectric project.

Environmental and Engineering Challenges

China claims the Yarlung Tsangpo is ideal for hydropower generation due to its steep descent from high mountains, ensuring a remarkable flow rate. However, the region's complex terrain, frequent seismic activity, and ecological fragility pose significant risks. The Tibetan Plateau, often referred to as the "roof of the world," sits atop multiple tectonic plates, making it highly prone to earthquakes.

Despite these dangers, China has attempted to address safety concerns. An official statement in December 2024 asserted that the project will prioritize ecological protection and is being developed on a solid scientific foundation, with the aid of extensive geological explorations and technical advancements.

Nonetheless, critics remain wary. The river carves out the deepest canyon on Earth, and the project site lies in one of the rainiest and most unstable parts of Tibet.

Previous Chinese mega-dam projects, such as the Three Gorges Dam, have raised concerns globally due to environmental degradation, mass displacement, and potentially earthquake-inducing water loads. According to scientific studies, massive water reservoirs can alter local geology, potentially triggering seismic activity or landslides.

Implications for India and Bangladesh

The dam’s location and magnitude have sparked serious concerns in India and Bangladesh, both lower riparian states—countries located downstream on a river. The Brahmaputra River, which originates in Tibet, enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, flows through Assam, joins with tributaries like the Dibang and Lohit, and finally enters Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

For both India and Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra is a lifeline, crucial for agriculture, drinking water, ecosystem stability, and local livelihoods. Any interference with its flow—whether in the form of water diversion, reduced silt movement, or flood releases—could have devastating ecological and economic consequences.

Former Indian Ambassador to China Ashok Kantha called the project “risky, dangerous, and irresponsible,” highlighting its location in an earthquake-prone region. He warned that even if China has no hostile intentions, the scale of the dam and potential for natural disasters require close coordination and information-sharing between upstream and downstream countries.

Another major concern is China’s control over water flow. In times of political tension or conflict, Beijing could theoretically use the dam as a strategic lever, releasing or withholding water to influence downstream regions.

India’s Response and Preparedness

India, in response, is also planning to build a dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh. The country is actively engaging with China through diplomatic and technical channels to voice concerns. On December 18, during talks between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, data sharing and transboundary water issues were reportedly discussed.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s concerns, stating:

“As a lower riparian state with established user rights, we have consistently expressed our views to China on such mega projects. We have emphasized the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries.”

Existing Cooperation Mechanisms

To address such water-sharing concerns, India and China have established several frameworks:

• The Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) was set up in 2006 to hold annual meetings and facilitate data sharing on transboundary rivers like the Brahmaputra and Sutlej.

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) specific to the Brahmaputra (renewable every five years) lapsed in 2023, though diplomatic efforts for renewal are ongoing.

• Another MoU was signed after the 2004 Parechu Lake incident, in which a glacial lake burst caused flooding in Himachal Pradesh after a landslide in Tibet. China’s timely sharing of data helped India mitigate the damage.

• The 1997 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses—although neither India nor China is a signatory—serves as a global framework advocating equitable and reasonable use of transboundary waters and preventing one country's actions from significantly harming another.

Despite these mechanisms, cooperation remains limited. China typically insists that such projects are "run-of-the-river", meaning they involve minimal water storage. However, the size and scope of this new project suggest massive water impoundment, contradicting such claims.

The Strategic Imperative for Dialogue

India must pursue a more assertive stance, experts argue. According to Ashok Kantha, “India needs to have an honest dialogue and essentially dissuade China from taking up a project of this magnitude.” He emphasized that water should become a major element in India’s strategic engagement with China.

Without a clear bilateral treaty or binding legal framework, India's best option lies in public diplomacy, international pressure, and strengthening domestic water infrastructure. Kantha warned that accepting Chinese claims without question could lead to a fait accompli, with serious long-term consequences for India and the region.

The construction of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra, while promising significant energy gains for China, raises a host of strategic, ecological, and humanitarian concerns for downstream countries. The project's geographical sensitivity, potential environmental disruption, and geopolitical implications demand urgent and transparent dialogue between all affected nations. In such a high-stakes scenario, cooperation—not competition—must guide the future of shared river systems in Asia.

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