The China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation said Friday that the Three Gorges hydropower plant is expected to generate 30 billion kwh of electricity in 2004.   

Four more generators, with an installed capacity of 700,000 kw each, are expected to be installed and go into operation in 2004, which will help ease the shortage of electricity across the country, especially in the central and eastern regions.

The gigantic water-control project will have 26 generators and will have an annual generating capacity of 84.7 billion kwh of electricity when it is completed in 2009.

Six generators have been installed and put into operation since construction of the project began in 1993.

By the end of 2003, the hydropower plant had generated 8.6 billion kwh of electricity, which was transmitted to areas in central, eastern and southwestern China. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2004)