As the country continues to exploit its energy resources, some hydroelectric power plants will be built in the Tarim River region, where the longest inland river in China runs.

The Tarim River region refers to a group of 144 rivers that runs near the Tarim Basin. These rivers belong to nine hydrographic nets including the river area from Kaidu to Kongquehe River, the Aksu River area, and the Yarkant River area. The total river basin covers an area of 1.02 million square kilometers, while the total water resources reach 42.9 billion cubic meters, more than the yearly run-off of the Yellow River.

The Tarim River Management Bureau said that the State Power Corporation was one of the first companies to take actions to utilize the water resources there. In 2003, the State Power Corporation obtained the right to utilize the water resources in the middle part of the Kaidu River. It built the Chahan Wusu Hydropower Station there with an installation capacity of 260,000 kilowatts.The Chahan Wusu Hydropower Station is expected to generate power in 2007.

Later, the State Power Corporation aimed to obtain the right to utilize the water resources in the Aksu River area and preparation work is now well under way.

The Xinhua Water Conservation and Hydropower Engineering Investment Company under the Ministry of Water Resources also took part in the exploitation in the Tarim River area. In 2005, they built the Tagate Hydraulic Power Station in the Aksu area and the power station will be put into operation next year.

In addition, the Xinhua Water and Conservation Hydropower Engineering Investment Company has made several geological surveys in the Yarkant River area. They plan to build a cluster of hydraulic power stations there with total installation capacity reaching one million kilowatts.

(Chinanews.cn July 20, 2006)