Zangmu Dam Explained

Zangmu Dam
Name Official:Zangmu Dam
Dam Crosses:Brahmaputra River
Status:O
Location:Gyaca, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Dam Type:Gravity, concrete
Dam Length:3890NaN0
Dam Height:1160NaN0
Plant Hydraulic Head:53.50NaN0 (nominal)
Dam Width Base:760NaN0
Dam Width Crest:190NaN0[1]
Construction Began:2009
Opening:2014
Cost:9.7 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion)[2]
Res Capacity Active:866000000NaN0 (daily)
Res Catchment:1576680NaN0
Res Elevation:33100NaN0[3]
Plant Turbines:6 x 85 MW Francis-type[4]
Plant Capacity:510 MW[5]
Plant Annual Gen:2.5 billion kWh est.
Plant Type:R
Plant Commission:2014-2015
Location Map:China
Coordinates:29.185°N 92.5167°W

The Zangmu Dam (藏木) is a gravity dam on the Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra River 9km (06miles) northwest of Gyaca in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This dam is built a few kilometers from the Bhutan-India border. The purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production using run-of-the-river technology.[6] It is part of the Zangmu Hydropower Project and supports a 510 MW power station. Construction began in 2009 and the first generator was commissioned in November 2014.[7] The last became operational on 13 October 2015.[8] It is the first dam on the Brahmaputra/Yarlung Zangbo River and has caused controversy in India.[9] [10]

Background

In 1972, the Chinese Academy of Sciences created the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Expedition which in part studied conditions in the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River basin. The study concluded that 114,000 MW of hydroelectric power generation capacity could be established in the basin, 79,000 MW from the main stem alone. A more in-depth hydrological study began in 1980 which identified 12 sites for dams. It was envisioned that the dams could alleviate power shortages in Lhasa. During the 1980s and 1990s, work failed to commence in the basin.[11] Currently, there are 28 proposed dams in the basin, Zangmu being the only one approved for construction.[12]

In April 2009, China's Gezhouba Group was awarded a $167 million contract for the Zangmu Hydropower Project. According to the company, the contract is for the design and construction of the dam along with its power house to control water flowing downstream to North Eastern India. The project will require 3400000m2 of concrete and 8 million tons of aggregate.[7] Specifications for the dam are uncertain as China has not shared much information.[13] On 12 November 2010, the construction reached coffer dam river closure.[14] The reservoir was impounded and the first generator was commissioned on 23 November 2014. The power station was declared fully operational on 13 October 2015.[8]

Downstream concerns

As the Brahmaputra River flows into India and Bangladesh, China's plans to construct a dam on the river are not without controversy. Reportedly, China had previously denied that they were constructing a dam on the Brahmaputra River, even after the contract was awarded. In April 2010, Yang Jiechi, their Foreign Minister, officially revealed that they were in fact constructing the Zangmu Dam on the river. China has assured India that the dam is "a small project which will not have any impact on the river's downstream flow into North-East India."[15] [16] [17] [18] Indian officials such as the Arunachal Pradesh Power Minister Jabron Gamlin express that "China's constructing a dam is a cause of concern for us, but we are not certain how big this dam is and what affect it would have on people living downstream".[13] Reportedly, China has refused requests to reduce the height of the dam but the Indian Minister of External Affairs at the time, S. M. Krishna, had asserted that India was not concerned with the dam due to its run-of-the-river design.[19] In January 2013 China approved three more dams on the river as part of its Twelfth Five Year Plan. The Dagu (640 MW) and Jiexu (560 MW) dams will be constructed upstream of Zangmu and the Jiacha Dam (320 MW) downstream.[20]

Design

The Zangmu Dam is a 1160NaN0 tall and 3890NaN0 long concrete gravity-type. On its right bank is the spillway, plunge pool and bottom outlet (for silt). On the dam's left bank, the retaining dam section is 800NaN0 tall and the power plant sits at its toe. The entire dam is 760NaN0 wide at its base and 190NaN0 wide at its crest. Sitting at the head of a 1576680NaN0 catchment area, the dam's reservoir has a daily active capacity (pondage) of 866000000NaN0 and normal reservoir elevation of 33100NaN0. The dam's power station contains six 85 MW Francis turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 510 MW.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Dhal Samanta. Pranab. China begins building dam on its side of the Brahmaputra. 23 June 2011. The Indian Express. 15 October 2009.
  2. Web site: He Haining. Jiang Yannan. A new era for Tibet's rivers. China Dialogue. 6 March 2011. 17 January 2011.
  3. Web site: Zangmu Dam Bid. Chinese government procurement network. 29 November 2011. zh.
  4. Web site: Delivery of Technology to Tibet's Largest Hydropower Plant. Rainpower. 29 November 2011. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002408/http://www.rainpower.no/en/media/latest-news/332-teknologileveranse-til-tibets-storste-vannkraftstasjon. dead.
  5. News: India concerned over China's hydro power project on Brahmaputra. 23 June 2011. Energy Business.
  6. Book: Chellaney, Brahma. Water : Asia's new battleground. 2011. Georgetown University Press. Washington, D.C.. 978-1-58901-771-9. 160.
  7. Web site: Hao. Tong. Gezhouba wins 1.14b yuan hydropower contract. China Daily. 28 August 2010. 2009-03-04.
  8. News: China's first hydropower dam on Brahmaputra is fully operational. 19 November 2015. HiLight News. 13 October 2015. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233346/http://hilight.news/chinas-first-hydropower-dam-on-brahmaputra-is-fully-operational/. dead.
  9. News: 28 August 2010. Banyan. 19 October 2009. Dammed rivers. The Economist.
  10. Web site: Damming Tibet's Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra and other South Asian rivers. Tibetan Plateau. 28 August 2010. 24 May 2010.
  11. Web site: Yajiang Tibet into a large hydroelectric power station era marked. China Dialogue. 29 November 2011. zh. 1 January 2011. 26 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426010711/http://gps.co188.com/content_info_53121441_2.html. dead.
  12. Web site: Push for new dams across Brahmaputra as China faces drought. The Hindu. 29 November 2011. 10 June 2011.
  13. Web site: India taking up China dam issue: Arunachal Min . Zee News. 28 August 2010. 11 August 2010.
  14. Web site: Varma. KJM. China Assures India Brahmaputra Dam Not Aimed at It. Outlook India. 6 March 2011. Beijing. 16 November 2010. 15 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110715024951/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?701431. dead.
  15. Web site: Ranjan. Rajiv. Damming The Brahmaputra: Setback To South Asian Stability?. 28 August 2010. 12 August 2010.
  16. Web site: Zarir Hussain. Syed. No Chinese dam over Brahmaputra - PM assures Arunachal. Thaindian News. 28 August 2010. 20 October 2009.
  17. Web site: China says dam on Brahmaputra won't affect river flow: Govt . Rediff News. 28 August 2010. 22 April 2010.
  18. Web site: China denies building dam on Brahmaputra; NRSA's evidence suggests otherwise. Dance With Shadows. 28 August 2010. 7 November 2009.
  19. Web site: China is not reducing height of dam on Brahmaputra river, says intelligence report. India Today. 29 November 2011. 20 June 2011.
  20. Web site: China gives go-ahead for three new Brahmaputra dams. The Hindu. 19 June 2013. 30 January 2013.