Three Gorges Project marks 5th anniversary of completion
2025-11-03 19:11:14
By Chen Zai
On November 1, the Three Gorges Project marked the 5th anniversary of its completion.
In the past five years, the project has generated 423 billion kWh of electricity, significantly aiding China’s "West-to-East Power Transmission" strategy. This production is equivalent to burning 128 million tons of coal, which would have led to 347 million tons of carbon emissions.
On November 1, the Three Gorges Project marked the 5th anniversary of its completion.
In the past five years, the project has generated 423 billion kWh of electricity, significantly aiding China’s "West-to-East Power Transmission" strategy. This production is equivalent to burning 128 million tons of coal, which would have led to 347 million tons of carbon emissions.
A bird view of the Three Gorges Dam.
In coordination with upstream reservoirs, the project has effectively managed flood control by retaining water, reducing flood peaks, and staggering discharges, holding back over 29 billion cubic meters of floodwater.
Over the past five years, the Three Gorges Reservoir has supplemented 82.4 billion cubic meters of water downstream, supporting production, living, and ecology in the middle and lower regions of the Yangtze River during dry seasons.
The project has also improved shipping benefits, with Three Gorges ship locks handling over 700 million tons of freight. The ship lift has expedited transit for 1.7 million passengers and 15 million tons of cargo.
Ships navigate the five-tier Three Gorges Ship Locks (left) and the Three Gorges ship lift (right).
Photo by Wang Gang.
Photo by Wang Gang.
