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Industry
Electric power, mining, light industry and textiles, and handicrafts constitute the four major industries of the Tibet Autonomous Region which has been witnessing fast economic development ever since late 1978, when the Central Government introduced the reform and opening program.
Electric Power
Tibet has built the Dongqu Power Plant in Xigaze, the Oiga Power Plant in Shannan, the Xiando Power Station, the Yangbajain Geothermal Power Station, the Puncog Power Plant, the Famo Gully Power Plant at Bayi, the Lhasa Hydropower Plant, the Lhasa Brewery, and the chromite mines in Shannan and Norbusa. These facilities have played an important role in promoting the Tibetan economic development and social progress.
In the mid-1950s, an attempt was made to remedy the power shortfalls resulting from Tibet's lack of oil and coal resources, leading to the construction of the region's first public power enterprise, the Lhasa Power Station. Subsequently, the state invested in building China's largest megawatt-class geothermal power station at Yangbajain. More recently, construction began on two additional power facilities--the Yamzhog Yumco Pumped-Storage Power Station and the Chalung Power Station. The former, involving 2.014 billion yuan of state investment, was completed and began to generate electricity in 1997.
In 2002, with the Oiga Hydraulic Power station and Mamlha Water Works gone into operation, alongside with a number of county and township power stations, the power generating capacity reached 376,000 Kw, benefiting 1.5 million people. By the end of 2002, the power grids in central Tibet covering Lhasa, Shannan, Xigaze and 12 counties reached the daily capacity of 143,000 Kw, with the daily consumption reaching 2.1 million kwh, all historical records.
The Lhasa-Zetang power grid went into operation in 2003. Beginning in 2004, Tibet saw an upsurge in construction of power projects. Construction of the Lhasa Zhigung Hydroelectric Power Station, the power supply project for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and the second-phase project of the central Tibet power grid began; all of these are key projects listed in the 10th Five-Year Plan. The same period also saw construction of the Qamdo power grid and the second batch of agricultural power grid transformation project. Redoubled efforts were made to prepare for construction of the Nyingchi Bahe Xoika Power Station and Ngari Shiquanhe Hydraulic Power Station. In 2004, Tibet generated 1.165 billion kWh of electricity, a rise of 14.6 percent from the previous year. By the end of 2005, Tibet's power generating capacity is expected to top 500,000 Kw.
Mining
Tibet boasts 1/8th of the land area of China, and is rich in mineral ores. The reserves of Tibet's Chromite, copper, magnetite and boron takes the first, second, third and fourth places in China respectively. The reserves of copper are highly likely to climb to the number one position in China. Copper and boron mines can be developed into large-scale ones nationally. Prospecting also shows that lead, zinc, gold, petroleum, iron and other minerals possess rich reserves. At present, Tibet's output of Chromite makes up 80 percent of China's total.
Mineral ores of high exploitation value include 63 large and medium-sized ones. Of these are 20 prospecting and mining areas and 29 mines to be further prospected. This promises a bright future.
Four large copper mines and one medium-sized one have been discovered in the Qamdo area, and their reserves are highly likely to reach more than 10 million tons. Efforts are being made to survey the prospective lead and zinc mines in Lhanorma and Youri areas. The Yulung Copper Mine is to go into production in 2005 and is expected to boast an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of electrolytic copper, with the annual output value reaching 2 billion yuan. It and the development of other mines will make the Qamdo area a zinc and copper production center of Tibet. Experts believe this will promote development of the non-ferrous metals processing industry, transport business and the tertiary industry, a boon for local industrial development.
Mining has been listed as one of the key industries in the 10th Five-Year Plan of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Although mining is still in its primary stage of development in the region, each year Tibet produces tens of thousands of tons of Chromite, 1,500 tons of boron and 16,000 tons of szaibelyite. The Norbusa Chromite Mine in Qusum of southern Tibet is largest of its kind in China. First developed in 1986, the mine involves a total investment of US$10.35 million. Its first phase produces 50,000 tons of Chromite a year; its second phase boasts an underground mining capacity of 100,000 to 120,000 tons. In August 1994, Tibet and Hubei joined hands in building the largest boron mine of Tibet and the largest boron chemical works in China at large.
In the future, Tibet will make great efforts to encourage surveys to establish the commercial potential of the reserves of copper, lead and zinc located in eastern Tibet, along with gold and mineral water, building materials (limestone and stone materials for adornment purposes), antimony, iron and geothermal heat. It is also encouraging efforts to survey the reserves of gold, lead, zinc and silver in the area south of the Yarlung Zangbo River, gold in western Tibet; and salt lake minerals, mainly lithium, boron and potassium, in northern and northwestern Tibet.
Ethnic Handicrafts
Jedexoi Town of Konggar County in Shannan Prefecture has devoted great efforts to developing ethnic handicrafts. Currently, it has four township handicrafts enterprises with annual output value exceeding 600,000 yuan.
Gyangze County is known for its rugs and carpets. The rugs and carpets produced in Gyangze are not only popular within the autonomous region, but also sell to more than 10 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and America.
| Carpets |
Carpets come of varied specifications. Those which are more than 18 square inches are called carpets while smaller ones are known as kardians. Gyangze's carpets are the most famous. Today, the Gyangze Carpet Factory produces more than 50 kinds of carpets, compared to eight in the past. Its annual output increases at annual average rate of 56 percent. |
| Aprons |
Sheep woolen fabrics are called Bamdian in Tibetan.They are produced mainly in Shannan, Xigaze and Lhasa. Those produced in Jedexoi Town are the most famous, and are sold also to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Western Europe. |
| Pulu |
These refer to hand-made woolen fabrics used to make garments, shoes and hats. People throughout the region weave pulu but those woven in Zhanang, Nanggarze, Gyangze and Mangkang are the most famous. |
| Tibetan Quilts |
They come of four specifications, weighing respectively five, seven, eight and 12.5 kg. The most ordinary one could be used for eight years, and the best could be used for two generations. |
| Gold and Silver Objects |
The come of two kinds: ornaments and article for daily use. The former includes bracelets, rings, necklaces, headgear, chest ornaments and snuff bottles. The latter refers to wine cups, spoons, chopsticks, bowls and plates. While some are made of pure gold or silver, sme are inlaid or wrapped with gold or silver sheets. |
| Tibetan knives |
In the past, knives were a necessity for Tibetans whenever they went. Tibetans used knives to eat meat and protect themselves. Meanwhile, knives were also an ornament for them. Knives for Tibetan males are usually broad and sharp, while those for Tibetan females are more delicate. The longest measures more than 1 meter, the shortest 40 cm and small ones over 10 cm. Some of the knives are inlaid with gems. Best Tibetan knives are produced in Lhasa, Damxung, Lharze, Ye'ong and Qamdo. |
| Tibetan Incenses |
They come of great varieties. The one named Golenyi'ashang is the most expensive. It is prepared with 25 kinds of medicinal herbs and could be burnt to keep off contagious diseases. |
Construction
Shortly after the Democratic Reform of Tibet in 1959, the Central Government sent sent government workers, technical personnel and ordinary workers to undertake aid projects in Tibet. As a result, a great improvement was seen in urban construction in the cities of Lhasa and Xigaze, and Tibet, which is dubbed "the roof of the world" for its high location above sea level, began to have a group of modern buildings with strong ethnic and local features.
After the mid-1980s, along with the deepening of reform and opening up nationwide, many building workers and large quantities of building materials flowed into Tibet from the inland areas, injecting new vigor to the local building sector. In areas like Lhasa and Xigaze, many buildings adopted composite structure normally found in inland areas, while others maintained wood-and-stone structures geared for the purpose of preserving the appearance of old buildings. The architectural designs successfully blended modern architecture with local ethnic flavor. In 2004, the building industry achieved an added value to the tune of 4.218 billion yuan, an increase of 18.1 percent over the previous year.
Industrial Output Value Unit: 10000 Yuan
|
Year |
Total |
Divided According to Economic Type |
Divided According to Light and Heavy Industries |
|
State-Owned Economy |
Collective Economy |
Other Kinds of Economy |
Light Industry |
Heavy Industry |
|
1959 |
4344 |
4243 |
101 |
|
164 |
4180 |
|
1965 |
2349 |
1797 |
552 |
|
892 |
1457 |
|
1970 |
3734 |
2857 |
877 |
|
1419 |
2315 |
|
1975 |
11306 |
8649 |
2657 |
|
4296 |
7010 |
|
1980 |
14894 |
13818 |
1076 |
|
4600 |
10294 |
|
1985 |
21247 |
13950 |
1958 |
5339 |
10765 |
10482 |
|
1990 |
37200 |
25395 |
4230 |
7575 |
14518 |
22682 |
|
1995 |
90816 |
65679 |
13909 |
11228 |
28479 |
62337 |
|
1999 |
166010 |
94686 |
14090 |
57234 |
65626 |
100384 |
|
2000 |
183036 |
94970 |
44529 |
43537
|
68814 |
114222 |
|
2001 |
199769 |
85086 |
49169 |
65514 |
79495 |
120274 |
|
2002 |
216337 |
96244 |
44899 |
75194 |
87977 |
128360 |
|
2003 |
239635 |
105503 |
40209 |
93923 |
89753 |
149882 |
Output of Major Industrial Products
|
Year |
Chromite
（ton） |
Electricity Generated
（10000 kwh） |
Cement
（ton） |
Timber
（10000 cubic meters） |
Traditional Chinese Medicine
（ton） |
Edible Plant Oil
（ton） |
Garments
（Piece） |
|
1959 |
|
88 |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
1965 |
|
2782 |
10600 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
1970 |
300 |
5302 |
3600 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
1975 |
200 |
10488 |
34000 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
1980 |
50300 |
17459 |
52200 |
21 |
101 |
|
|
|
1985 |
14101 |
24668 |
46668 |
21 |
82 |
|
154261 |
|
1990 |
93120 |
31582 |
132345 |
21 |
55 |
|
25576 |
|
1995 |
109882 |
48343 |
219952 |
16 |
222 |
|
100900 |
|
1999 |
183661 |
63323 |
390378 |
13 |
538 |
|
50728 |
|
2000 |
196628 |
66075 |
493200 |
12 |
591 |
|
44190 |
|
2001 |
159446 |
69690 |
495900 |
10 |
697 |
342 |
63600 |
|
2002 |
124222 |
79650 |
590800 |
5 |
995 |
352 |
36400 |
|
2003 |
155796 |
101600 |
889100 |
6 |
889 |
192 |
17900 |
Production of Construction Enterprises
|
Index |
Unit |
2001 |
2003 |
|
Number of Enterprises |
Piece |
123 |
162 |
|
Enterprises Operating in the Red |
|
8 |
9 |
|
Output Value of Building Industry |
10000 Yuan |
186831 |
293427 |
|
Construction Projects |
|
171344 |
238109 |
|
Installation Projects |
|
|
44307 |
|
Non-Standard Equipment Manufacturing |
|
5040 |
|
|
Added Value of Building Industry |
10000 Yuan |
36131 |
81547 |
|
Output Value of Commissioned Projects |
10000 Yuan |
194669 |
267571 |
|
Number of Projects Under Construction Unit |
Piece |
665 |
|
|
Number of Projects Put Under Construction Within the Year
|
|
602 |
|
|
Number of Projects Commissioned |
Piece |
586 |
|
|
Quality Projects |
|
185 |
|
|
Area of Housing Under Construction |
10000 sq.meters |
88.10 |
131.09 |
|
Area of Projects Put Under Construction Within the Year |
|
80.50 |
119.44 |
|
Area of Housing Commissioned |
10000 sq.meters |
76.75 |
121.28 |
|
Area of Quality Projects |
|
16.17 |
|
|
Area of Housing |
|
28.19 |
49.36 |
|
Net Value of Self-Owned Machinery Equipment |
10000 Yuan |
19860 |
45820 |
|
All Labor Productivity |
Yuan/Person/Year |
|
|
|
Calculated According to Output Value |
|
73267 |
73204 |
|
Calculated According to Added Value |
|
14169 |
16593 |
Economic Index of Industrial Enterprises At and Above Township Level Which Follow Independent Accounting (2003) Unit: 10000 Yuan
|
Index |
Number of Enterprises （Piece） |
Industgrial Output Value
（Same Year Price） |
Total Fixed Assets
|
Sales of Product Sales |
Profits and Tax Payments |
|
Coal Mining and Coal Washing |
1 |
689 |
2712 |
814 |
82 |
|
Ferrous Metals Dressing |
5 |
10058 |
30074 |
27724 |
4980 |
|
Non-Ferrous Metals Mining and Dressing |
16 |
8210 |
17459 |
6252 |
2957 |
|
Non-Metallic Ores Mining and Dressing |
15 |
2700 |
4321 |
5276 |
-130 |
|
Non-Metallic Ore and Products |
23 |
66859 |
50195 |
50725 |
14282 |
|
Metallic Products |
2 |
32 |
3385 |
211 |
-2 |
Number of Capital Construction Projects Under Construction or Already in Operation (End of 2003)
|
Trade |
Projects Under Construction
|
Completed Constructioin Projects
|
Rate of Projects Going Into Production（％） |
|
Total |
2363 |
1781 |
75.4 |
|
Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Fishery |
162 |
134 |
82.7 |
|
Mining |
1 |
|
|
|
Manufacturing |
23 |
17 |
73.9 |
|
Production and Supply of Power, Gas and Drinking Water |
119 |
54 |
45.4 |
|
Building Industry |
28 |
20 |
71.4 |
|
Geological Survey |
2 |
2 |
100.0 |
|
Communications and Transportation, Warehousing and Posts and Telecommunications |
414 |
276 |
66.7 |
|
Wholesale and Retail Sale Business, and Catering |
46 |
38 |
82.6 |
|
Finance and Insurance |
18 |
12 |
66.7 |
|
Real Estate Business |
1 |
1 |
100.0 |
|
Residential Service and Other Services |
7 |
4 |
57.1 |
|
Health, Social Security and Social Welfare |
139 |
119 |
85.6 |
|
Education |
311 |
257 |
82.6 |
|
Scientific Research and Comprehensive Technological Service |
23 |
20 |
87.0 |
|
Public Management and Social Organization
|
615 |
514 |
83.6 |
|
Other Trades |
|
|
|
|
