China has embarked on an ambitious dam construction project in Tibet, which is expected to be the world’s largest hydropower plant. The project was announced by the Chinese government as part of a national strategy for green energy relocation and decarbonization, as well as economic growth in remote areas for Tibetans. The decision to build the dam was not a sudden move but rather the result of a long-term plan included in China’s five-year plan. The plan will see clean energy such as hydropower as one of the focuses, and the massive dam structure will be seen as a symbol of China’s technology in response to future energy needs.
The dam, called Medog or Motuo, is built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, a river that flows from Tibet to India and finally to Bangladesh. The dam is located in Medog County, southeastern Tibet, on the direct border with Arunachal Pradesh, India. This area is very remote, difficult to access, and surrounded by steep Himalayan mountains. However, this place also has a very large hydropower potential due to the strong river flow and extreme water levels. These geographical conditions promise the project to be very efficient in generating electricity.
expected to have a capacity of up to 60 gigawatts (GW). The dam is currently recorded as the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world, far surpassing the Three Gorges Dam with a capacity of around 22.5 GW. The construction cost for this project is also fantastic, estimated at 1 billion yuan, or 137 billion USD. With these figures, this project is one of the most expensive energy infrastructures ever built in the world. The Chinese government says this investment is worth the long-term benefits it will produce in terms of renewable energy, jobs, and stabilizing the national power system.
Construction of the Medog Dam is scheduled to continue from late 2024 to around 2033. During the construction process, China mobilized rigorous technology, excellent work, and extraordinary logistical support amidst extreme terrain. The project also involved some of China’s largest state-owned construction companies. The Chinese government said the dam is not only a source of clean energy but will also help become a pilot project for flood control, irrigation, and utilizing natural resources in high and remote areas.
However, this large-scale project has raised concerns from various political parties, especially from countries that are tributaries of the river, such as India and Bangladesh. The Yarin Tsangpo River is of vital importance for agriculture and for the livelihoods of millions of people in the region. India has explicitly highlighted the risks of unilateral control of water flow infection or river discharge. This could affect water and nutrient safety in the northeastern part of the country. In addition, the location of the dam, very close to the Indian border, raises geopolitical sensitivities, especially amid tensions between the two countries in recent years.
From an environmental perspective, experts warn that building such a large dam in the Himalayas, which is prone to earthquakes and landslides, could pose a major risk. The Medog region is known to be active, and in early 2025 the Tibet region was rocked by a 6.8 earthquake, sparking a long-running battle with large dams in the region. In addition to the geological risks, the project also raises concerns that while the Chinese government has not yet designated a housing plan for affected communities, it will disrupt its own ecosystem in the catchment area, threatening biodiversity and forcing residents to relocate.
Despite these threats, the construction of the Medog dam also reflects global technological innovation and global ambition in the energy sector. By harnessing the potential of renewable energy on an extraordinary scale, China is demonstrating its ability to develop large-scale infrastructure projects in extreme areas. The project also symbolizes China’s position as a leader in the clean energy revolution, but it cannot be ignored by the geopolitical results that cannot be ignored. In the future, the balance between domestic profits, environmental compatibility, and regional stability will be the biggest test of the world’s largest dam project.
The construction of the Medog Dam also shows the dynamics of access to and control over countries’ natural resources. As an upstream land, China has a geographical advantage in determining how water flows are handled, but countries like India and Bangladesh must rely on the politics of their neighbors. This inequality can lead to tensions if not compensated for by fair transparency and multilateral agreements. India has been promoting the establishment of a regional cooperation mechanism on the management of the Cross Rivers in recent years, but there is no comprehensive agreement between the two countries. The construction of this dam shows that the lack of an international legal framework on the Jarung Tsangpo River can open up space for control while endangering regional stability in the long term.
Furthermore, the project has also become part of a global variation in the development of clean energy infrastructure. Countries such as India, Brazil, and Ethiopia have also been continuously building large dams as a source of renewable energy. However, lessons from previous projects show that large dams often cause serious social and ecological problems. Therefore, projects such as Medog-Kämme must be dynamic to implement the highest standards for environmental protection and community rights. The lack of transparent public consultation in Tibet raises concerns that the project will repeat the mistakes of past developments by sacrificing local communities for national interests.
This project not only affects ecological and geopolitical aspects but also has implications for diplomatic relations in the wider Asia-Pacific region. Tensions between China and India, for example, have increased several times over the Himalayan border dispute. The development of large-scale infrastructure such as this dam, very close to the LAC (Line of Actual Control), symbolically strengthens Beijing’s claim to territorial control in the region. This complex effort is to normalize relations between two fragile countries. If the project is not treated carefully in diplomatic dialogue, it can not only affect the two countries but also worsen the stability of the entire Indo-Pacific region.
Finally, the construction of the Medog Dam reflects a new era in which energy challenges, the climate crisis, and geopolitical conflicts are closely linked. The world is now at the crossroads of the need for renewable energy and the need to maintain the sustainability of the global ecosystem. In this context, the success of this project is measured not only in the amount of electricity generated but also in the way the project is carried out responsibly. Trade Fair for Local Communities, Governments, and Neighboring Countries’ Interests. Therefore, the Medog Dam is not only a matter of electricity and concrete but also concerns the future of water, diplomacy, and sustainable development in the 21st century.
