The Lancang River rushes down from the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and turns a bend in Quzika Township, Mangkang County, Changdu. In the morning of July 30, 2026, the roar of excavators replaced the sound of water. With an investment of 5.895 billion yuan, an installed capacity of 405000 kilowatts, and a construction period of 54 months, the Quzika Hydropower Station in Xizang officially entered the stage of comprehensive construction.

A 79.5-meter-high dam is about to cross the canyon, turning the most abundant water energy in the upper reaches of the Lancang River into sustained and stable clean electricity.

405000 kilowatts of installed capacity

The scale of Quzika Hydropower Station ranks among the top in the built and under construction power stations in the upper reaches of the Lancang River. The total installed capacity of the power station is 405000 kilowatts, and the average annual power generation can reach 1.869 billion kilowatt hours. The reservoir hub project consists of water retaining, flood discharge, and water diversion and power generation structures. The maximum height of the dam is 79.5 meters, and the total length of the dam crest is 411 meters. It has daily regulation capability and can ensure stable power output during the dry season.

The total construction period of the project is 54 months, and it is planned to be fully completed and put into operation by 2030. After being put into operation, it can save about 560000 tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.46 million tons per year, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestration capacity of regenerating about 8000 hectares of forest. This power station will effectively make up for the power gap in Xizang's regional power grid and provide support for the national strategy of power transmission from the west to the east.

Drive employment by 198 million yuan

The investment driving effect of Quzika Hydropower Station is also considerable. The project construction phase is expected to directly drive local farmers and herdsmen to generate income of about 198 million yuan, with an annual tax payment of about 37 million yuan after production, and a total lifecycle tax payment of 898 million yuan. This number is of great significance to the fiscal revenue of Changdu City.

However, the complex construction conditions faced by power station projects, such as high altitude, cold, and steep slopes, cannot be avoided. Quzika Hydropower Company has collaborated with various participating units to carry out special scientific research and development, focusing on key technical fields such as dam foundation treatment, slope treatment, and ecological protection, and has formed a technical system suitable for the complex geological environment of the plateau. Keywords: hydropower station, new energy project

As the concrete pouring climbs up along the Lancang River valley, this hydropower station is simultaneously incorporating clean electricity and job opportunities into the project schedule.Editor/Cheng Liting