China's Yarlung Zangbo River Mega-Project Balances Energy Production with Fish Migration
China has constructed the Huaneng Zangmu Hydropower Station on the Yarlung Zangbo River, incorporating a fishway and a stock enhancement program to protect rare fish species.
The Global Times has reported on the Huaneng Zangmu Hydropower Station, a significant infrastructure project situated on the Yarlung Zangbo River on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Operational since 2015, the station supplies a substantial portion of electricity to Southwest China, ending the region's reliance on diesel fuel for large-scale power.
A key focus of the project is the effort to balance energy generation with environmental considerations. The hydropower station features a specially designed fishway, which reports indicate has facilitated the passage of approximately 570,000 fish since the facility began operation. This measure aims to ensure the free migration of rare and endemic fish species within the river.
Additionally, the project includes a program for stocking and releasing fish fry, with the objective of boosting the river's fish populations. To date, 1.97 million fry have been released as part of this initiative. The construction costs for the fishway alone amounted to approximately 360 million yuan (about $53 million), with annual fry-breeding costs nearing 7 million yuan (about $1 million).
The design explicitly addressed the need for unobstructed fish migration, recognizing its importance for maintaining the genetic diversity of the river's rare fish populations. This initiative aligns with China's broader national strategy emphasizing the development of an "ecological civilization" and promoting green development.