The first group of four power generating units in the Three Gorges
area is expected to begin operation this year as scheduled after
the acquisition of a water-use right from the Yangtze River Water
Resources Committee.
The right owned by the Three Gorges Project Development Company
allows the 14 power generating units on the southern bank of the
Yangtze River to consume an annual maximum of 232.3 billion cubic
meters of water for hydro-electricity.
According to a company plan, two 700,000-kw power generating units
will be put into operation in August and another two will begin
operation in October.
Once the principal part of the project for 12 power generating
units on the northern bank of the river is completed, another
water-use right allowing an annual water consumption of 198.9
billion cubic meters will be granted.
To
guarantee the operation of the largest water conservancy project in
China, the committee approved in 1996 the application of the
company for an annual water consumption of 431.3 billion cubic
meters.
Of
the total, 85.77 million cubic meters of water will be used to meet
construction and domestic purposes.
According to China's Water Law, water resources are state assets.
To draw water from a particular source, such as a lake, an
irrigation canal or a river, official licenses are required.
Since the system was implemented in 1993, more than 100,000
water-use rights have been granted in the Yangtze River valley,
which allow a total annual water consumption of 1.05 trillion cubic
meters, of which 930 billion cubic meters is used in
hydro-electricity.
Construction of the Three Gorges Project began in 1993 and is
expected to be completed in 2009, when the 26 power generating
units with a combined capacity of 18.2 million kw will go into
operation.
(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2003)