InternationalSunday, 6 September 2026·The Hindu - National
China’s Brahmaputra mega dam plan: 1.2 trillion yuan project, 60 GW target and India’s downstream concerns
China has reiterated its Brahmaputra mega dam plan in Tibet, with a 1.2 trillion yuan investment and projected 60 GW capacity, raising India’s downstream concerns.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for renewable energy reaffirmed the Yarlung Zangbo Lower Reaches Hydropower Project on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, with a reported 1.2 trillion yuan investment and a projected 60 GW capacity.
Key specifics
- China released its 15th Five-Year Plan for renewable energy on July 23, 2026.
- The mega dam is called the Yarlung Zangbo Lower Reaches Hydropower Project in Tibet.
- Premier Li Qiang announced the start of construction in July 2025 at Nyingchi.
- The project’s announced investment is 1.2 trillion yuan, for five power stations.
- Chinese analysts project 60 GW installed capacity and 300 billion kilowatt-hours of power a year.
Exam lens
Question type: International relations and geography, key facts: Yarlung Zangbo = Brahmaputra, Tibet, 1.2 trillion yuan, 60 GW, Nyingchi, 2025-26 timeline. TNPSC may ask which river and which country are linked to the mega dam project.