China started construction of another major hydropower station, designed to have an installed capacity of 4.8 million kilowatts, in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Tuesday, according to local sources.

 

Known as the second-tier hydropower plant at Jinping, a bend in the Yalong River, the project involves a total investment of 29.8 billion yuan (about US$3.73 billion). It is scheduled to be completed in 105 months.

 

The developer, the State Development and Investment Corporation, said the new plant is the largest of a series of hydropower plants to be constructed on the 1,571-km-long Yalong River.

 

Construction of Ertan hydropower station, located at the lower reaches of the Yalong River and with an installed capacity of 3.3 million kw, has been completed.

 

Construction of the first-tier hydropower plant at Jinpin, with a designed installed capacity of 3.6 million kw, began in November last year. It is expected to be completed in 2014.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2007)