Three Gorges Project Expected to be Complete in 2008, One Year Ahead of Schedule

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--China's Three Gorges project, the largest hydropower project in the world, is expected to be complete at the end of 2008, one year ahead of schedule, the China Changjiang Three Gorges Project Development Corporation (CTGPC) (Yichang, China) announced.

After the successful trial operation of Unit 17 in the Right Bank power station near the end of December, the installed capacity of newly operating units reached 5,000 megawatts (MW). So far, there are 21 large units of 700 MW operating in the Three Gorges project. Along with two 50-MW units at another power station, the total installed capacity of Three Gorges is 14,800 MW.

According to initial plans, the project will have 26 units at two power stations -- the right and left banks. In 2008, the Right Bank station's remaining five units will be put into operation, and all facilities specified in the preliminary designs, except the Shiplift expansion, will be completed. Based on current operating conditions, investments for the project could be recovered in 10 years.

In the meantime, CTGPC is preparing to build four large hydropower projects upstream of the Yangtze River: the Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba hydropower stations. These projects are equivalent to two times the power output of the Three Gorges project. The 12,600-MW Xiluodu station closed the river last month. The 6,000-MW Xiangjiaba station is scheduled for completion in 2015 with the first batch of units expected to go into operation in 2012. The total estimated investment of the project is about $2.43 billion.

CTGPC has decided to develop the 8,700-MW Wudongde station and the 13,050-MW Baihetan station at the same time. Site investigations and pre-stage preparation of these two stations are scheduled to be conducted this year, and construction is expected to start in 2010.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading marketing information services company for the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy-related markets throughout the world. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, IIR provides accurate and timely intelligence featuring plant and project information databases, focused market databases, industry forecasting, key industry contacts, industry and territorial map products, direct marketing services and applications, and daily industry news.