Yellow River to be China's Major Power BaseThe upper reaches of the Yellow River, which flows from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, will become the major source of electricity for energy-deficient eastern Chinese provinces.Shaanxi, Qinghai and Gansu provinces, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and the National Power Corporation have formed the Yellow River Hydro-Electric Development Company Ltd. The 918-km section between Longyang Gorge and Qingtong Gorge has a drop height of 1,324 meters. Twenty-five power stations with a combined installation capacity of 15.8 million kw will be built in the region. Seven power stations are either being built or have started operation already. Preparations for the construction of Gongbo Gorge Hydro-electric Power Station are well under way. Chinese experts predict that the upper reaches of the Yellow River will become a comprehensive energy base including hydro-electric, thermal power, natural gas and new energy. As an important part of China's "West-to-east Electricity Transmission Project" initiated by the central government, the project will greatly accelerate economic growth in northwest China and serve as a major electricity provider to east China. China has a rich water energy resources with an exploitable installed capacity of 378 million kw. However, 90 percent of the potential power resources are located in China's southwest, central and some northwest regions while seven provinces and municipalities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong lack energy resources though they consume more than 40 percent of the country's total electricity. |
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