Zangmu Dam

The Zangmu Dam (藏木) is a gravity dam on the Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra River 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of Gyaca in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This dam is built a few kilometers from the Bhutan-India border. The purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production using run-of-the-river technology.[7] It is part of the Zangmu Hydropower Project and supports a 510 MW power station. Construction began in 2009 and the first generator was commissioned in November 2014.[8] The last became operational on 13 October 2015.[9] It is the first dam on the Brahmaputra/Yarlung Zangbo River and has caused controversy in India.[10][11][12][13]

Zangmu Dam
Location of Zangmu Dam in China
Official nameZangmu Dam
LocationGyaca, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Coordinates29°11′06″N 92°31′00″E
StatusOperational
Construction began2009
Opening date2014
Construction cost7.9 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion)[1]
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity, concrete
ImpoundsBrahmaputra River
Height116 m (381 ft)
Length389 m (1,276 ft)
Width (crest)19 m (62 ft)[2]
Width (base)76 m (249 ft)
Reservoir
Active capacity86,600,000 m3 (70,208 acre⋅ft) (daily)
Catchment area157,668 km2 (60,876 sq mi)
Normal elevation3,310 m (10,860 ft)[3]
Power Station
Commission date2014-2015
TypeRun-of-the-river
Hydraulic head53.5 m (176 ft) (nominal)
Turbines6 x 85 MW Francis-type[4]
Installed capacity510 MW[5]
Annual generation2.5 billion kWh est.[6]

Background

In 1972, the Chinese Academy of Sciences created the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Expedition which in part studied conditions in the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River basin. The study concluded that 114,000 MW of hydroelectric power generation capacity could be established in the basin, 79,000 MW from the main stem alone. A more in-depth hydrological study began in 1980 which identified 12 sites for dams. It was envisioned that the dams could alleviate power shortages in Lhasa. During the 1980s and 1990s, work failed to commence in the basin.[14] Currently, there are 28 proposed dams in the basin, Zangmu being the only one approved for construction.[15]

In April 2009, China's Gezhouba Group was awarded a $167 million contract for the Zangmu Hydropower Project. According to the company, the contract is for the design and construction of the dam along with its power house to control water flowing downstream to North Eastern India. The project will require 3,400,000 m3 (4,400,000 cu yd) of concrete and 8 million tons of aggregate.[8] Specifications for the dam are uncertain as China has not shared much information.[13] On 12 November 2010, the construction reached coffer dam river closure.[6] The reservoir was impounded and the first generator was commissioned on 23 November 2014. The power station was declared fully operational on 13 October 2015.[9]

Downstream concerns

As the Brahmaputra River flows into India and Bangladesh, China's plans to construct a dam on the river are not without controversy. Reportedly, China had previously denied that they were constructing a dam on the Brahmaputra River, even after the contract was awarded. In April 2010, Yang Jiechi, their Foreign Minister, officially revealed that they were in fact constructing the Zangmu Dam on the river. China has assured India that the dam is "a small project which will not have any impact on the river's downstream flow into North-East India."[12][16][17][18] Indian officials such as the Arunachal Pradesh Power Minister Jabron Gamlin express that "China's constructing a dam is a cause of concern for us, but we are not certain how big this dam is and what affect it would have on people living downstream".[13] Reportedly, China has refused requests to reduce the height of the dam but the Indian Minister of External Affairs at the time, S. M. Krishna, had asserted that India was not concerned with the dam due to its run-of-the-river design.[19] In January 2013 China approved three more dams on the river as part of its Twelfth Five Year Plan. The Dagu (640 MW) and Jiexu (560 MW) dams will be constructed upstream of Zangmu and the Jiacha Dam (320 MW) downstream.[20]

Design

The Zangmu Dam is a 116 m (381 ft) tall and 389 m (1,276 ft) long concrete gravity-type. On its right bank is the spillway, plunge pool and bottom outlet (for silt). On the dam's left bank, the retaining dam section is 80 m (262 ft) tall and the power plant sits at its toe. The entire dam is 76 m (249 ft) wide at its base and 19 m (62 ft) wide at its crest. Sitting at the head of a 157,668 km2 (60,876 sq mi) catchment area, the dam's reservoir has a daily active capacity (pondage) of 86,600,000 m3 (70,208 acre⋅ft) and normal reservoir elevation of 3,310 m (10,860 ft). The dam's power station contains six 85 MW Francis turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 510 MW.[3]

See also

References
  1. He Haining, Jiang Yannan (17 January 2011). "A new era for Tibet's rivers". China Dialogue. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  2. Dhal Samanta, Pranab (15 October 2009). "China begins building dam on its side of the Brahmaputra". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  3. "Zangmu Dam Bid" (in Chinese). Chinese government procurement network. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  4. "Delivery of Technology to Tibet's Largest Hydropower Plant". Rainpower. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  5. "India concerned over China's hydro power project on Brahmaputra". Energy Business. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  6. Varma, KJM (16 November 2010). "China Assures India Brahmaputra Dam Not Aimed at It". Beijing: Outlook India. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  7. Chellaney, Brahma (2011). Water : Asia's new battleground. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-58901-771-9.
  8. Hao, Tong (4 March 2009). "Gezhouba wins 1.14b yuan hydropower contract". China Daily. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  9. "China's first hydropower dam on Brahmaputra is fully operational". HiLight News. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  10. Banyan (19 October 2009). "Dammed rivers". The Economist. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  11. "Damming Tibet's Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra and other South Asian rivers". Tibetan Plateau. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  12. Ranjan, Rajiv (12 August 2010). "Damming The Brahmaputra: Setback To South Asian Stability?". Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  13. "India taking up China dam issue: Arunachal Min". Zee News. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  14. "Yajiang Tibet into a large hydroelectric power station era marked" (in Chinese). China Dialogue. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  15. "Push for new dams across Brahmaputra as China faces drought". The Hindu. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  16. Zarir Hussain, Syed (20 October 2009). "No Chinese dam over Brahmaputra - PM assures Arunachal". Thaindian News. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  17. "China says dam on Brahmaputra won't affect river flow: Govt". Rediff News. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  18. "China denies building dam on Brahmaputra; NRSA's evidence suggests otherwise". Dance With Shadows. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  19. "China is not reducing height of dam on Brahmaputra river, says intelligence report". India Today. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  20. "China gives go-ahead for three new Brahmaputra dams". The Hindu. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
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