China To Launch Massive Hydropower Construction in 21st CenturyChina expects to see a booming development of hydropower in the 21st century, with total hydropower capacity reaching 125 million kw by 2010, or 33.1 percent of the country's exploitable hydropower resources.According to Pan Jiazheng, deputy president of the China Engineering Academy, China is has some of the richest hydropower resources in the world, with exploitable water energy resources estimated at 378 million kw. Hydropower projects at Three Gorges, Xiaolangdi, and Ertan in Sichuan Province are the largest such projects in the world, the senior expert said. Addressing the ongoing seminar on China's energy development strategy for 21st century, Pan said that China aims to develop additional hydropower capacity ranging between 80 million kw and 100 million kw in the first 20 years in the 21st century, and hydropower generating units with capacity totaling four to five million kw on average to be put into operation annually. China has made remarkable achievements in developing its hydropower industry since the founding of New China in 1949, particularly since the launching of the reform and opening-up policy in 1979. Total generating capacity and annual electricity output have risen from 163,000 kw and 710 million kwh in 1949 to the present 53 million kw and 190 billion kwh, respectively. As a result, China now ranks third in the world in hydropower generating capacity and production. However, much needs to be done to exploit the country's enormous hydropower resources, Pan said, adding that the country's total hydropower generating capacity accounts for only 13.8 percent of the exploitable potential, a figure lower than the world average. |
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