The first 300,000-kw generating unit of the Xiaolangdi water control project, the largest of its kind on the Yellow River, started producing electricity and went on line January 9.

Construction of the project at a cost of 40 billion yuan (nearly 5 billion US dollars) started in 1994. It is expected to be fully operational next year and by then, a total of six units with an aggregate generating capacity of 1.8 million kw will have been installed. Its annual power output will reach 5.1 billion KWH.

The project is located in the section of the river near centralChina's Henan Province, and is the country's largest project builtwith a World Bank loan.

It also has the functions of flood and ice floe control, silt reduction, irrigation and water supply.