The Story So Far
China has been planning a massive hydropower dam at the Great Bend of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet for decades.
The project was included in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan in 2020 and approved on December 25, 2024.
This 60 GW dam will have serious downstream impacts on India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, as the Brahmaputra river flows through these countries.
Where is This Project?
The Brahmaputra is a transboundary river system originating in Tibet (China), flowing through India and Bhutan, and eventually reaching Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal.
All riparian nations (China, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh) have planned or are constructing major infrastructure on the river, including hydropower dams and irrigation projects.
Is the Brahmaputra River Basin Trapped Within Nation-States?
Countries view transboundary rivers like the Brahmaputra as resources they can control by building dams, seen as symbols of national sovereignty.
China is in a dominant position as the upstream nation and has pursued large hydropower projects, such as the Three Gorges Dam, to exert control over the river system.
The “water wars” rhetoric surrounds these projects, with downstream nations concerned about the impacts of China’s upstream dams.
Risks for Communities Inhabiting the Brahmaputra River Basin
Communities along the Brahmaputra, in Tibet and downstream, have traditionally adapted to the river's natural cycles, but megadams disrupt this.
Planned mega-dam could disrupt the river's flow, affecting agriculture and groundwater systems in India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh
Disruptions to the river’s flow could alter monsoon patterns and harm the sensitive Himalayan ecology
What Explains the Hydropower Dam-Building Race in the Brahmaputra River Basin?
China, India, and Bhutan are competing to build large hydropower dams on the river system, each seeking to secure resources and power.
There is no formal treaty between the riparian countries for managing the river, and China and India only have a limited mechanism for data sharing.
The ongoing territorial disputes, especially between China and India, add complexity to this geopolitical contest, contributing to heightened tensions.
A Bioregional/Ecoregional Approach to Protecting the Himalayas
Scholars suggest adopting a broader regional perspective to protect the Brahmaputra river basin and its communities.
Addressing climate change, the impacts of mega-dams, and the importance of river ecosystems could help de-escalate tensions.
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