Three Gorges Dam

            The world's largest hydro project, the Three Gorges Dam in China is currently under.
             The project is controversial as large environmental and social impacts are.
             expected despite the fact that the project is supposed to control the region's severe floods,.
             and to generate 18.2 GW of hydropower, and to improve river navigation. The Three Gorges Project is the world's largest hydro project. It is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2009. The project involves about 20,000 workers of whom 40% are women, according to the China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Corporation. The dam site is surrounded by scenic landscape with beautiful gorges and many important cultural sites. The area to be submerged is fertile and densely populated. Opposition around the world argues that the project would be a social and environmental disaster, having seen the tragedies of large dams elsewhere in the world.
             China's rapid economic growth results in both dramatic improvements in living standards.
             and serious damage to its environment. China's real GDP grew by 8% in 2000 and 7.5% in 2001. More than 70% of electricity in China is generated by coal; in total, 80% is thermal (coal, gas, and crude oil); 19% hydro; and 1% nuclear. Such high dominance of coal use in China creates serious environmental problems such as air, land and water pollution. Burning coal produces greenhouse gases, and emission levels of Carbon Dioxide in China are increasing continuously. According to Chinese officials, electricity supply would have to increase by 20-30% to eliminate present power shortages; the economic cost of these power shortages is very high. The installed hydro capacity in China is less than 15% of its exploitable hydro potential and The Chinese government is currently intending to obtain 40% of its power from clean hydroelectric sources. The dam is intended to raise flood control capacity from the present 10-year frequency to 100-year frequency, to provide one tenth of China's existing energy needs, and to improve navigation along the river.