Extra-large Hydropower Stations to Be Built along Upper Reaches of The YangtzeChinese government has decided to use the money earned from electricity generated in Three Gorges to build two more extra-large hydropower stations, namely Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba, at the Jinsha River on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, as learned from the Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, February 22.Xiluodu is a multi-functional huge project with focus to be laid on electricity-generation while taking into account the flood control, sand blocking and improvement of navigation along the lower reaches. According to its feasibility studies, it is designed for a water level of 600 meters with a water storage capacity totaling 12.9bn cubic meters. Having an installed capacity of 12.6m kw it will generate an annual capacity of 57.6bn kwh. Xiangjiaba is similar in function and designing figures for it stands at a 380-meter water level with a water storage of 5.1bn cubic meters, 6m kw installation capacity and a yearly power-generating amount of 29.3bn kwh. The exploring and designing work is now in full swing with an initial fund of over 280m yuan injected in it. Geological prospecting for Xiluodu, the first one to be built has been basically finished and studies on major technological problems are now underway with a skeleton projection to be out by the yearend. By PD Online Staff Li Heng |
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