The Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest engineering projects in the history of mankind, is on the brink of completion. The construction started in 1994 and once completed in 2009, it will be the world’s largest men-made reservoir with a capacity of nearly 40 billion m3 and a length of 663km, and will finally submerge an area of 1040km2.
(Miller et al.2005; Yong n.d.)
The dam is located in Hubei province on the Yangtze, China’s longest river and the third longest river worldwide. (International Rivers Network 2004)
Sun Yat-sen first proposed the idea of this hydroelectric dam in 1919, but due to war, civil war and revolution the plan was shelved. Mao revived the thought in the mid 50s because of major floods, but the chaos of the Cultural Revolution buried it again until the economic reforms in the 70s and 80s underlined the urgent need for electricity for the rapidly growing country. (Reference.com 2006; Wikipedia n.d.; Kennedy 2001; Starr 2001) Premier Li Peng finally pushed it through the rubber-stamping National People’s Congress in 1992, but the project was so highly controversial, that a level of opposition occurred that was unprecedented before.
(166 delegates voted against the project, nearly one third abstained). (Starr 2001; Gamer 2003; Cannon 2000) At the moment, as the dam nears completion, the dispute between supporters and opponents continues within China as well as overseas.
In my essay, I want to bring forward the main arguments whether the Three Gorges Dam is a good thing for China or not.
In the following section I will highlight the multiple benefits of this project.
Subsequently, after going into detail concerning its disadvantages, I will finally survey if a single statement is possible and appropriate whether or not this project is favourable.
Table of Contents
1. Preface
2. Benefits of the Three Gorges Dam
3. Drawbacks of the Three Gorges Dam
4. Conclusion
5. Referencing List and Bibliography
Research Goal and Thematic Focus
The primary goal of this essay is to provide a balanced overview of the Three Gorges Dam project by critically examining the arguments surrounding its implementation, weighing its potential contributions to China's economic development against the severe social, technical, and environmental challenges it presents.
- Hydro-electric power generation and energy supply security.
- Flood control mechanisms and their impact on downstream safety.
- Navigation improvements and economic integration of the nation's interior.
- Socio-economic costs, including mass resettlement and regional wealth disparity.
- Environmental concerns such as siltation, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Strategic and structural safety risks associated with the massive reservoir.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Drawbacks of the Three Gorges Dam
According to these plausible benefits, the TGD is a highly beneficial project, but I also want to show the perspective of the dam’s opponents.
The most severe technical problem is the reservoir’s siltation. Experts believe that at least 60% of Yangtze’s silt load will be trapped within the reservoir, i.e. about 530 million tons per year with a volume of 0.43km2. (Barber&Ryder n.d.) Sedimentation on the one hand will clog the ship locks and the ports of Chongqing, and on the other hand a reduced silt load increases the erosive capacity downstream. Furthermore, de-silting is a very cost intensive issue and the task of flood prevention and power generation gets more difficult the more sediment deposits. (Haggart 2003; Reference.com 2006)
To make way for the huge reservoir the resettlement of up to 1.9 million people commenced. (IRN.org 2004) That is not only ethically extremely questionable, but also very cost intensive consuming 40% of the total budget. (Cannon 2000) The relocated people are given farmland and compensations, but it is by far not enough to outweigh their personal grievances. The funds often are misappropriated by local officials and the land is less fertile compared to the prolific land in the valley.
This resettlement is a good example for the aggravating wealth disparity in the region: the dam serves the provinces Hunan and Hubei mostly by flood control and power generation, while Sichuan province bears most of the cost regarding to resettlement and the loss of fertile land. (Barber&Ryder n.d.; Wikipedia n.d.)
Summary of Chapters
1. Preface: This section introduces the historical background and the controversial origins of the Three Gorges Dam project, outlining the scope of the essay.
2. Benefits of the Three Gorges Dam: This chapter analyzes the primary advantages of the project, focusing on power generation, flood control, navigation improvements, and economic development.
3. Drawbacks of the Three Gorges Dam: This chapter highlights critical disadvantages, addressing technical problems like siltation, ethical concerns regarding mass resettlement, environmental degradation, and financial risks.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the opposing arguments, acknowledging that while the dam provides significant developmental benefits, the associated costs and negative impacts remain highly contentious.
5. Referencing List and Bibliography: This section provides a comprehensive list of sources and academic references utilized to inform the analysis.
Keywords
Three Gorges Dam, China, Yangtze, Hydro-electric power, Flood control, Resettlement, Siltation, Environmental impact, Economic development, Navigation, Wealth disparity, Renewable energy, Infrastructure, Sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this assignment?
The assignment provides an analytical overview of the Three Gorges Dam in China, examining both the proponents' arguments for the project's benefits and the opponents' concerns regarding its negative impacts.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The essay covers technical infrastructure (energy and flood control), economic growth, social issues (resettlement), and environmental and safety risks.
What is the central research question?
The essay seeks to determine whether the Three Gorges Dam is ultimately a beneficial project for China, given the conflicting evidence regarding its utility and its drawbacks.
Which methodology is applied in this research?
The author employs a comparative qualitative analysis, weighing the claimed advantages against the documented disadvantages based on a literature review of expert sources and existing reports.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body is divided into two distinct sections: one detailing the potential benefits of the dam, such as clean energy and flood mitigation, and another addressing the severe technical, social, and ecological drawbacks.
Which keywords best describe the work?
The paper is best characterized by terms like Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze, Resettlement, Hydro-electricity, Flood control, and Environmental impact.
How does the author view the economic impact of the project?
The author notes that while the dam supports regional economic development and electricity generation, there are significant concerns regarding the accuracy of profitability calculations and the high financial costs involved.
What are the identified environmental risks?
Key environmental risks mentioned include the accumulation of pollutants and toxic waste in the reservoir, the loss of biodiversity, and the potential increase in methane emissions from decaying biological matter.
- Citar trabajo
- Matthias Kammerer (Autor), 2005, The Three Gorges Dam (Der Drei Schluchten-Damm), Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/83239
