China’s massive $167 billion Mega-Dam in Tibet Stirs Controversy

Project Overview - China has initiated construction on a 167 billion hydropower project in Tibet [1] - The dam aims to supply electricity to 300 million people and potentially replace coal [1] - The project's capacity equals Poland's entire grid [2] Resource Consumption - The dam will use cement equivalent to seven Hoover Dams [2] - Steel usage will surpass that of 66 Empire State Buildings [2] - Concrete usage is enough to build a two-lane road circling the Earth at the equator four times [2] Economic Impact - The project could boost China's GDP growth by 0.1% to 0.2% percentage points [3] - It is expected to create 200,000 new jobs annually over the next decade [3] - The project is designed to support struggling industries like construction, cement, and steel [3] Geopolitical and Environmental Concerns - The dam is located in a seismically active and mountainous region [4] - Indian officials have expressed concerns regarding the dam's impact on water resources critical to millions [4]