The Chinese premier has announced the start of work on a $170 billion hydropower plant with a capacity of 300 billion kWh annually.

The project, located on the Yarlung Zangbo river, consists of five hydropower plants and will produce the equivalent of the UK's annual electricity consumption. Chinese authorities claim the dam will meet electricity demand in Tibet and China without significantly affecting the environment or water supplies. But India and Bangladesh are concerned about the impact on downstream populations, and NGOs warn of environmental risks. The project could boost the Chinese economy, but details of jobs created were not given.