A huge investment of 27.5 billion yuan (US$3.31 billion) will be spent in building facilities to generate hydro-electricity for nine regions from the Three Gorges Project.
A total of 26 generators with a combined capacity of 18.2 million kilowatts will be installed as part of the Three Gorges Project, which began in 1993. Upon completion in 2009, the project will be able to generate 84.7 billion kw/h of electricity annually.
The hydro-electric power generated by the Three Gorges Project will be transmitted to the central, east and south China regions, including Hubei, Henan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Guangdong provinces, as well as Shanghai Municipality, according to a plan approved by the State Council late last year.
With the heavy investment, the power transmission network extending 9,000 km along the nine regions will in place by the time the Three Gorges Project is completed in 2009.
The first group of four generators is due to become operational next year, during which time only 5.5 billion kw/h of electricity will be generated, of which, 2.88 billion kw/h will be transmitted to central China provinces and 2.62 billion kw/h to east China regions.
(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2002)
