China plans to accelerate the development of water resources on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River as part of the country's surging development of the western region.

Liu Junfeng, general manager of the Ertan Hydroelectric Development Company, said ecently that four large hydropower stations with a combined installed capacity of 9.05 million kw will be built on the Yalongjiang River on the upper reaches of the Yangtze, the country's longest river, in the near future.

The Yalongjiang River in southwestern Sichuan is one of the country's 12 large water energy resource bases, with proven reserves of water energy of 33.4 million kw.

It has been reported that 21 hydropower stations could be built on the river in accordance with future development plans.

According to Liu, 400 million yuan has been invested to make preparations for the construction of the Guandi and the Jinping No. 1 hydropower stations on the river.

The Jinping No.1 station, with an installed capacity of 3.6 million kw, will be capable of generating 18.2 billion kwh a year, and will cost some 30 billion yuan to build. The embankment of the station will be 325 meters high.

The station is expected to play a pivotal role in developing water energy resources and invigorating the economy of western China, said Liu.

The Ertan Hydropower Station, the largest facility of its kind in China scheduled for completion this century, is also located on the Yalongjiang River. The station, 46 km from the city of Panzhihua, has an installed capacity of 3.3 million kw.