Two Hydropower Projects to Begin Construction in Guangxi This Year

The Longtan hydropower project on the Hongshui River and the Bose key water control project on the Youjiang River have been included in a state plan to begin construction this year.

In addition to the two hydropower projects in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the state plan has also listed six other major projects that will start construction this year.

The planning, prospecting and designing of the Longtan hydropower project and Bose key water control project started in 1958 and 1957, respectively.

Through repeated discussions, preparations for the hydropower projects have been thorough. Conditions are now ready to begin formal construction of the key parts of the hydropower projects.

Planned to be one of the ten tiered hydropower stations on the Hongshui River, the Longtan hydropower station will be located in Tian'e County of Guangxi. The station will have a total installed capacity of 5.4 million kw and will cost more than 20 billion yuan (about US$2.4 billion).

Up to now, some 1 billion yuan (about US$120 million) has been spent on pre-stage preparatory construction of the Longtan hydropower project, including infrastructure for transportation and supply of materials, relocation of residents from the reservoir area and acquisition of land.

The Bose key water control project will be built on the upper reaches of the Youjiang River in Bose City of Guangxi. The project is designed to be a large water conservation facility capable with multiple functions, including power generation, irrigation, navigation, water supply. It is designed to have a total installed capacity of 540,000 kw and will cost 4.8 billion yuan (about US$578 million).

Some 220 million yuan (about US$26.5 million) has been spent on pre-stage preparatory construction of the Bose water control project.

Cao Bochun, top official of Guangxi, pledged that the regional authorities will go all out to support the construction of the two hydropower projects, which are listed as major works in the country's campaign to develop the vast west.






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