Summary of Yarlung Tsangpo River Hydropower Project Conference Call Industry and Company Involved - **Industry**: Hydropower Engineering - **Project**: Yarlung Tsangpo River Downstream Hydropower Project Key Points and Arguments 1. **Project Overview**: The Yarlung Tsangpo River Downstream Hydropower Project plans to construct five cascade hydropower stations with a total installed capacity of 70 million kilowatts, including a backup capacity of 81.6 million kilowatts, and an annual power generation of 330 billion kilowatt-hours, expected to start generating power by 2035 [1][2][3] 2. **Environmental Impact**: The project is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 300 million tons annually and cut standard coal consumption by 80 million tons, significantly contributing to carbon neutrality goals [1][5] 3. **Economic Contribution**: The project is expected to contribute over 500 billion yuan to Tibet's GDP annually, create over one million jobs, and promote the development of high-end domestic equipment and UHV technology [1][5] 4. **Investment Structure**: Total investment for the project is 1.2 trillion yuan, with each hydropower station costing between 200 billion to 300 billion yuan. Construction contracts account for about 60% of the total investment, while land acquisition and resettlement costs are less than 20% [1][6] 5. **Material Requirements**: The project will require substantial materials, including 54 million tons of low-temperature resistant cement, 4 million tons of steel, and 150 million tons of sand and gravel, along with 100,000 tons of explosives annually [1][4][26] 6. **Technological Challenges**: High-altitude construction leads to reduced equipment efficiency and increased maintenance costs. Key challenges include technology premium, domestic substitution (over 85% localization), and integrated innovation [2][13] 7. **Power Transmission**: The project will utilize ±800 kV UHV DC transmission to deliver power to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with an expected need for approximately 15 UHV lines [2][8] 8. **Local Consumption vs. Export**: The local consumption to export ratio is approximately 8:2, with future local demand expected to grow due to industries like data centers and electrolytic aluminum [2][9] 9. **Project Timeline**: The construction of the five hydropower stations is staggered, with the first station already under construction and expected to be fully operational by 2033. Other stations are at various stages of planning and preparation [2][10][19] 10. **Economic Viability of Hydropower**: Despite higher construction costs, hydropower offers stable and clean energy, making it a valuable asset for meeting energy demands and achieving carbon neutrality [12][13] Other Important but Possibly Overlooked Content 1. **Innovative Construction Techniques**: The project employs advanced tunneling techniques and smart operation systems, including the use of TBM hard rock tunneling machines and highland shield machines [2][3] 2. **Impact on Local Urbanization**: The project is expected to drive urbanization in the region, potentially making Linzhi the largest city in the highland area with a projected population growth to around 500,000 [6] 3. **Intelligent Inspection Technologies**: The project incorporates intelligent inspection technologies, utilizing robots for various tasks to enhance efficiency and reduce human labor in high-altitude conditions [17][25] 4. **Material Supply Chain**: The supply of essential materials like cement and steel is expected to be steady throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring no significant disruptions [26]