China will inject 13.1 billion yuan of investment in the Three Gorges Project in 2001, the largest yearly amount of money allocated for fixed asset development since 1993 when construction of the project started.
This year's construction plan mainly includes pouring 4.1 million cubic meters of concrete, completing the 6.4-km permanent ship lock construction; embedding and installing 68,500 tons of electrical machinery and water channeling equipment; demolishing the earth and stone weir built at the upper reaches; preparing for the second river damming; and finishing 9.09 million cubic meters of digging and filling, according to the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Co.
Since 1993, investment into fixed assets for the project has amounted to 59.1 billion yuan to complete 140 million cubic meters of earth and stone work and 14.74 million cubic meters of concrete pouring.
Timetable and expenditure have so far been running according to schedule, sources said, adding that the whole project is expected to be completed in 2009.
(Xinhua 02/13/2001)