Three Gorges Project Heads for Goal of Power Generation on ScheduleAfter eight years of construction, the Yangtze three Gorges Project is heading for the goal of power generation in 2003.The project, planned to be completed in 17 years, is to be constructed in three stages. The first phase, 1993-97, is targeted at damming the big river; the second phase, 1998-2003, is aimed at getting the first group of four power generating units into operation, and the completion and the commission of navigation of the permanent ship-locks; the third phase, 2004-09, will see the completion of the whole project. From now on to the year 2003 when the first group of the power generating units will go into operation, In the three years of construction, the project will have to get over three barriers: the first is to successfully tackle the highly difficult technical problem of concrete pouring; the second is overcome difficulties in the installation of extra-large metal structures; the third is to successfully manufacture and install the super-capacity hydro-generators. By this past October, the excavation work of the principal parts of three Gorges Project had been completed by and large, so had concrete pouring been completed in 50 percent of the main parts of the project Presently, the entire project is advancing toward the goal of putting the first group of power generating units into operation and launching the permanent ship-locks into navigation in 2003. By PD Onlibe staff Du Minghua |
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