China Begins Construction of $167.8 Billion Mega Dam on Brahmaputra Near Indian Border, Raising Geopolitical Concerns
In a major infrastructure development with wide-ranging geopolitical and environmental implications, China has officially commenced construction of a massive dam on the Brahmaputra River, known locally in Tibet as the Yarlung Zangbo.
The announcement was made during a grand groundbreaking ceremony held on Saturday, presided over by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, marking the formal launch of the Mainling Hydropower Station project in Nyingchi City, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, just a few kilometers from the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the ceremony was attended by senior Chinese officials from various national agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Power Construction Corporation of China, along with local Tibetans.
The strategic location of the project, close to the contested Sino-Indian border, is expected to intensify regional anxieties, particularly in India and Bangladesh, both of which are downstream riparian nations.
The World’s Largest Hydropower Project
Described as the largest infrastructure project currently underway anywhere in the world, the Mainling Hydropower Station forms part of a cascade of five dams planned on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra/Yarlung Zangbo.
The estimated total cost of the project stands at 1.2 trillion Chinese Yuan, equivalent to around USD 167.8 billion. Once operational, the entire cascade is expected to have a combined generation capacity of over 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year—enough electricity to meet the annual power needs of over 300 million people, roughly equivalent to the population of the United States.
While the hydropower generated will primarily be used to supply electricity to mainland China, part of it is also intended to meet local energy demands within Tibet, a region Beijing refers to officially as Xizang.
Rising Tensions and Environmental Concerns
The project has already raised significant concerns in India, which views the construction of such massive water infrastructure near its border with deep suspicion. Analysts have pointed out the strategic and environmental vulnerabilities that such projects pose.
The Brahmaputra is one of the major transboundary rivers shared between China, India, and Bangladesh, and any unilateral action upstream by Beijing could affect water flow, ecological balance, and agricultural productivity in the lower riparian nations.
The Indian government has consistently expressed reservations over the lack of transparency surrounding China’s water management policies and the absence of a binding multilateral treaty for water-sharing on the Brahmaputra.
While China has maintained that the dam project is purely for hydropower generation and not for irrigation or diversion, concerns remain about the potential impact on river flow and sediment transport, especially during monsoon months.
Furthermore, experts argue that such projects are likely to accelerate ecological degradation in the already fragile Himalayan region, putting at risk biodiversity, glacial systems, and livelihoods dependent on riverine ecosystems.
Geopolitical Undertones
The decision to begin construction at this time is also being interpreted through the lens of China’s assertive geopolitical posture, particularly concerning its disputes with India over Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of South Tibet.
Given the ongoing border tensions between India and China following the deadly 2020 Galwan clash, the dam project adds another layer of complexity to already-strained bilateral relations.
This latest development underscores China’s growing infrastructure footprint in strategic border regions, which is viewed by many in New Delhi as part of a broader effort to consolidate control over Tibet and influence water dynamics across South Asia.
As the construction progresses, international observers, environmentalists, and policymakers in India and Bangladesh are likely to monitor the situation closely, with calls expected for greater diplomatic engagement and transparency in transboundary water governance.
