China Begins Construction of World's Largest Dam on Brahmaputra in Tibet

In a development with far-reaching geopolitical implications, China on Saturday officially launched the construction of the biggest infrastructure project in the world at a cost of a massive $167.8 billion on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, close to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over the high-profile ground-breaking ceremony at Nyingchi City in the Tibet Autonomous Region, marking the formal commencement of what is poised to become the world’s largest hydropower infrastructure project. The site lies in a deep gorge of the Yarlung Tsangpo river - China’s name for the Brahmaputra, just before it curves sharply and enters India as the Siang.

The dam is being constructed at the Mainling section of the river and is part of the Nyingchi hydropower project. The massive venture comprises five cascade hydropower stations and is expected to cost approximately 1.2 trillion yuan, or around USD 167.8 billion.

Once operational, the mega-dam is projected to generate over 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to power more than 300 million people. While the Chinese government claims the electricity will primarily be transmitted to other regions, the dam is also expected to meet local demand in Tibet (referred to by Beijing as Xizang).

Dam in a high-risk seismic zone

Environmentalists and seismic experts have also flagged the dangers of constructing such a massive project in a seismically active region. The Tibetan Plateau lies on a tectonic boundary prone to frequent and intense earthquakes. The U-bend area of the Yarlung Tsangpo, where the dam is situated, is considered one of the most geologically fragile zones in the Himalayas.

Despite assurances from Chinese authorities about safety and ecological protection, independent experts remain skeptical. The dam's location presents unique engineering challenges and ecological risks, not just for Tibet but for the densely populated floodplains downstream.

The Nyingchi hydropower project is set to surpass China’s own Three Gorges Dam—the current largest hydropower facility in the world. It also follows the Zam Hydropower Station, commissioned in 2015 on another section of the Yarlung Tsangpo, which had already triggered serious concerns in India and the region.

With this latest project, water has clearly emerged as the new frontier of geopolitical competition in Asia. The dam symbolizes China’s broader strategy to dominate the headwaters of major transboundary rivers originating on the Tibetan Plateau—often described as the "Third Pole" due to its vast freshwater reserves.

As India and Bangladesh watch closely, the start of construction on the Tsangpo mega-dam marks a pivotal shift in the regional hydrological balance, one that could define the future of water security and interstate relations in South Asia for decades to come.

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