China makes headway in exploiting rich water resources
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-30 13:46
The Longtan hydropower project, designed to exploit western China's rich
water resources, began storing water at 9:37 a.m. on Saturday when four sluice
gates were lowered to shut off the flow of the Hongshui River.
The
hydropower project is a key component of China's "Go West" campaign which seeks
to bring electricity from underdeveloped western Chinese regions which abound in
water resources to the economically developed, but energy-thirsty eastern and
coastal areas.
It will take eight to 18 days to raise the water level in
the reservoir from 215 m to 290.5 meters, said Zhong Jun, chairman of the board
of Longtan Hydropower Development Co. Ltd, who is also in charge of Saturday's
water storage process.
The water storing process at Longtan will not
affect water usage further down the Pearl River because another downstream
hydropower project will step in and increase water discharge, according to
deputy general manager Long Xianjin.
Located in the northwestern part of
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Longtan Hydropower Project is being built
on Honghe River, a major tributary of the Pearl River.
An investment of
30 billion yuan (about 3.75 billion U.S. dollars) from China Datang Corporation
(CDT), one of China's five power developers, is being used to build a dam, a
ship lock and an underground power generating house where nine turbogenerators
totaling 6.3 million kw will be installed.
Construction began in July
2001 and the project is scheduled to finish in 2009, with the first
turbogenerator starting to generate power in May 2007. It will be capable of
generating 18.7 billion kw/hours of electricity annually once
completed. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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