Construction of the Quzika hydropower station in Xizang officially began on July 30, marking the start of full-scale building of the project on the Lancang River.

The project, with a total investment of 5.90 billion yuan ($868.95 million), will have an installed capacity of 405 MW, according to Xinhua News.

The construction period is expected to last 54 months, with average annual power generation reaching 1.87 TWh once operational, said Bie Bixiong, deputy Party secretary and general manager of Xizang Kaitou Quzika Hydropower Co., Ltd.

The dam, with a maximum height of 79.5 meters and total length of 411 meters, will feature water-retaining, flood-discharge and water-diversion structures with daily regulation capacity.

The Lancang River, with abundant hydropower resources, is a key component of the clean energy base in the upper reaches of the river in Xizang. Once completed, the station will save about 560,000 tonnes of standard coal annually and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.46 million tonnes, helping fill regional power supply gaps and supporting the national west-to-east power transmission strategy.

During construction, the project is expected to generate about 198 million yuan in income for local farmers and herders, with annual tax contributions of about 37 million yuan after commissioning and total tax payments of 898 million yuan over its full lifecycle.

Quzika Hydropower Co., together with participating construction units, has conducted special research focused on dam foundation treatment, slope management, ecological protection, cultural heritage preservation and power generation efficiency, developing a technical system adapted to the plateau's complex geological conditions while balancing heritage and ecological conservation.