World's second largest dam starts construction in southwest China

Construction on what will be the world's second-largest dam has begun on the Jinsha River, where Sichuan and Yunnan provinces meet.

A launch ceremony for the Baihetan project was held at the construction site on Thursday, August 3rd.

The Baihetan Dam crosses the Jinsha River, where Sichuan and Yunnan provinces meet. [Photo: VCG]

The main purpose of the dam will be to generate electricity, but it's also expected to improve downstream shipping conditions and help open navigation in the reservoir behind the dam. The dam will also facilitate flood control and sand control in the area.

It will also help control flooding and problems with silting in the area. [Photo: VCG]

The Baihetan dam is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 and all 16 electricity units are expected to be generating power the following year. Its designed average annual power generation is over 62.4 billion kwh. 

The project is expected to be completed at the end of 2022. [Photo: VCG]

When completed, the dam will be the world's second-largest hydropower facility with a gross installed capacity of 16 million kilowatts, following the Three Gorges Hydropower station.