Construction of the huge dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project on the Yangtze River is expected to be completed on May 20, an executive with the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation said Sunday.

 

"There are less than 3,000 cubic meters of concrete left to be placed before the dam is finally completed and this is nine months ahead of the schedule," said Cao Guangjing, deputy general manager of the corporation.

 

The completion of the dam--2,309 meters long and 185 meters high--marks the end of the principal part of the project which is often compared to the Great Wall in its scale, said Cao.

 

The dam is situated near Xiling Gorge, the most easterly of the Three Gorges on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The construction of the dam was split into two phases -- the right and the left banks.

 

 

 

Work began in 1998 from the north bank of the Yangtze River and this part of the project was completed in October 2002.

 

Work on the other side started in July 2003. Now the two parts have met and most of the dam sections on both sides have reached the same level. ?

 

Started in 1993, the Three Gorges Project which includes 26 generators is scheduled to be completed in 2009 and will be capable of generating 84.7 billion kwh of electricity annually.

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(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2006)