Project Overview

The Three Gorges Dam Project is an infrastructure project located on the Yangtze River in China. It is the largest dam project in the world. It is built in multiple phases and reached its full generation capacity by 2012. The construction of this dam aims to protect China from heavy floods.

It is approximately 2,335 meters (7,660 feet) long with a height of 185 meters (607 feet). Its design is made up of 28 million cubic meters of concrete and 463,000 metric tons of steel. The project allows the oceangoing freighters to navigate and generate hydroelectric power. 

The navigation process of the dams and reservoirs is enabled with the five-tier ship locks at both ends, allowing vessels up to 10,000 tons to navigate the dam. 

The hydroelectric generation capacity of the project is 22,500 megawatts, making it the most productive hydroelectric dam in the world.

Moreover, it comprises a ship lift, allowing vessels of up to 3,000 tons to bypass the ship locks and reach the dam more easily and quickly. In late 2015, the ship lift was recognized as the largest ship lift in the world, measuring 120 meters in length, 18 meters in width, and 3.5 meters in depth. 

Three Gorges Dam Project Location

The Three Gorges Dam project is located in China, on the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang), the country's longest and the world's third-largest river by length. It is specifically located within the Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province.

Key transport hubs, such as Yichang Sanxia Airport and Yichang East Railway Station, are approximately 70 km and 50 km away from the dam site, respectively.

History & Background Details

The plan for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam was initiated in 1919  by Sun Yat-sen as a solution for floods and energy needs. Early surveys and studies followed in the 1920s and 1930s. It gained momentum in 1953 when Chinese leader Mao Zedong prepared feasibility studies. The detailed planning for the project began in 1955. 

The project critique begins soon with its construction plans. Some of the major problems in the project include the danger of dam collapse and the displacement of nearly 1.3 million people living in more than 1,500 cities, towns, and villages along the river. 

These criticisms led to a 40-year delay in the Three Gorges Dam construction work, as they made it difficult for the Chinese government to proceed with the project. 

The Three Gorges Dam project moved forward in 1993, when access roads and electricity were built to the site. Its official construction started in December 1994, and at that time, it was recognized as the largest engineering project in China. Workers blocked and diverted the river in 1997, completing Phase I. 

The dam’s fifth tier of ship locks, which let vessels up to 10,000 tons pass through, was put into service in 2003. The dam’s first generator was also connected to the grid, completing the second phase of construction. 

Main wall construction was completed in 2006. The other remaining dam generators were operational by mid-2012. A ship lift, which allowed vessels of up to 3,000 tons to bypass the ship locks and reach the dam more easily and quickly, was completed in late 2015 and began operating in 2016. 

Gorges Dam Project Ownership Details

The Three Gorges Dam project is owned and managed by China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. (CYPC), which is a subsidiary established by the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG). CTG is a Chinese state-owned enterprise, founded in 1993, and was responsible for the construction, financing, and ongoing oversight of the dam. CYPC took over operational management and power generation once construction was completed. 

Project Timeline

Three Gorges Dam Project Cost

The total estimated cost for the construction of China’s Three Gorges Dam project is 254.2 billion yuan (USD 37.23 billion). It includes the cost of relocating and resettling the 1.3 million people it displaced. 

Why was the Three Gorges Dam project built?

The following are the reasons for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. 

• Largest Hydroelectric Dam: The Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze River in China, is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. 
  

• Hydropower Generation: The dam has a Hydropower Generation capacity of 22,500 MW, using 32 main turbine units (700 MW each) and two smaller generators (50 MW each). 
  

• Reservoir: The project includes the construction of a reservoir nearly 610 kilometers long and 1.3 kilometers wide. It has a storage capacity of approximately 39.3 billion cubic meters. 
  

• Installation of the ship lift: The Three Gorges Dam installs a ship lift and a five-tier ship lock system, allowing safe navigation for vessels between the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
  

• Flood Control: The project aims to control and minimize flood effects in the Yangtze basin by synchronizing upstream water levels, holding approximately 39.3 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoir for flood retention and downstream protection.
  

• Relocation and Resettlement: Over 1,300 villages and 13 cities were submerged, forcing major resettlement and reconstruction efforts, displacing 1.13 to 1.5 million people.
  

• Flood Control Infrastructure: Construction of extensive flood control infrastructure to protect downstream areas, including major cities like Wuhan and Shanghai, from seasonal flooding.

Three Gorges Dam Project Contractors

Three Gorges Dam Project Investors

Advantages of the Gorges Dam Project

The following are the advantages of the Gorges Dam project.

• Flood Control: The construction of the Gorges Dam played a crucial role in flood control during floods in the downstream along the Yangtze River by controlling and storing excess water.  
  

• Renewable Power Generation: Being the world’s largest hydropower generator, it produces approximately 100 billion kWh of clean electricity annually. 
  

• Reduce Coal Reliance: The clean energy produced helps reduce coal reliance, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. 
  

• Improved Navigation: Through the construction of the upstream reservoir and raising water levels, the dam enables large ships (up to 10,000 tons) to travel deeper into China’s interior, increasing shipping capacity. 
  

• Efficient Water Management: The dam stores and releases water as needed, ensuring a constant supply for downstream agriculture, industrial use, and drinking water, especially during dry seasons and droughts.
  

• Boost Tourism: The panoramic area near the dam has become a major tourist spot, boosting local tourism.
  

• Economic Development: Improved infrastructure and renewable energy produced by the Gorges Dam boost the economy in the region. 

Conclusion

The Three Gorges Dam project is an infrastructure project located on the Yangtze River in China. It is the world’s largest hydropower generator with a capacity of 22,500 MW, using 32 main turbine units (700 MW each) and two smaller generators (50 MW each). It is approximately 2,335 meters (7,660 feet) long with a height of 185 meters (607 feet).

It is advantageous in many ways, such as effective flood control, generating renewable power, and enhancing navigation. Through its effective flood control, it prevents losses from disasters and reduces economic losses. Improved navigability facilitates economic connectivity and regional development.

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