China’s Mega Hydropower Dam Developer Forms First Leadership Team

Digital Phablet, July 29 — China’s Yarlung Zangbo Group, the developer behind the massive CNY1.2 trillion (USD167.2 billion) dam project on the lower Yarlung Zangbo River in western Xizang Autonomous Region, has appointed its first-ever chairman and general manager.

Yarlung Zangbo has chosen Yu Bing, formerly the general manager of China Energy Group, as its chairman. Wang Wubin, who previously served as deputy general manager of China Three Gorges Corporation, has been named general manager, according to an announcement from CTG on WeChat.

The project officially broke ground on July 19, with Yarlung Zangbo serving as the investor, builder, and operator. It will feature five cascade hydropower stations and is expected to become the world’s largest source of hydroelectric power once completed.

Additionally, CTG reported that its chairman met with Yu, Wang, and other senior executives of Yarlung Zangbo in Nyingchi on the same day construction began, during which they signed an agreement to strengthen future collaboration.

Yu, 57, previously worked as deputy general manager of China Huadian from 2018 to 2021 and served as deputy director of the National Energy Administration from 2021 to 2023 before joining China Energy. Early in his career, he held senior management roles at China Power Investment, a predecessor of State Power Investment Corporation, within various subsidiaries.

Wang, 54, has extensive experience in water conservancy and hydropower projects. Prior to assuming his role as general manager at CTG, he was chairman of its publicly traded wind and solar energy division, Three Gorges Energy.

This large-scale hydropower project will tap into the plentiful water resources of the Yarlung Zangbo River, promote the development of nearby new energy sources, and establish a clean energy cluster combining hydropower, wind, and solar power. The main goal is to supply electricity primarily for external consumption.