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Xinjiang Dashi Gorge hydro project's first units connect to grid

Xinjiang Dashi Gorge hydro project's first units connect to grid

Built World

World's tallest concrete-face sand-gravel dam starts generating in the Tianshan Mountains

Today: Units 1 and 2 connect to the power grid

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Two of three generating units at the Dashi Gorge water control project in Xinjiang's Tianshan Mountains connected to the power grid on September 29. The 247-meter dam is the world's tallest concrete-face sand-gravel dam.

When all three units run, the project will generate 1.89 billion kilowatt-hours a year, enough for about 600,000 households, and release 3.42 billion cubic meters of water annually into the Tarim River. Downstream flood protection rises from a 10-year to a 50-year return period.

Why it matters

The dam locks in water and power for southern Xinjiang's farms and cities, and sets a new global benchmark for concrete-face sand-gravel dam construction.

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Key Indicators

247 m
Maximum dam height
World record for a concrete-face sand-gravel dam.
750,000 kW
Total installed capacity
Three 250-megawatt Francis turbine units.
1.89 billion kWh
Expected annual generation
Enough for about 600,000 households per year.
3.42 billion m³
Annual water to Tarim River
Ecological water supply to the Tarim River.
600,000
Households served
Annual electricity needs of about 600,000 households.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

January 2019 September 2026

5 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Units 1 and 2 connect to the power grid

    Today Milestone

    The first two units are formally connected to the grid, marking the project's transition to full operation.

  2. Unit 2 enters commercial production

    Milestone

    The second unit officially begins generating power. Unit 3 completes factory tests.

  3. Unit 1 enters commercial production

    Milestone

    The first unit officially begins generating power after passing its trial run.

  4. Unit 1 completes 72-hour trial run

    Milestone

    The first generating unit finishes its 72-hour trial run and is ready for commercial operation.

  5. Construction begins on Dashi Gorge project

    Construction

    Work starts on the water control hub in the Tianshan Mountains, a project that would take seven years.

Scenarios

1

Unit 3 online by end of 2026

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Gate News, citing China Energy Engineering Corporation

Unit 3 has completed factory tests and is undergoing grid connection tests. If it comes online by the end of 2026, the project reaches its full 750-megawatt capacity and all three units run.

2

Full design benefits delivered in first full year

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Xinhua, Chinadaily

With all three units running, the project delivers its design annual generation of 1.89 billion kilowatt-hours and 3.42 billion cubic meters of water to the Tarim River, plus the 50-year flood protection standard.

3

Operational issues emerge from harsh conditions

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Based on the high-sediment, high-head operating conditions

The Kumalak River's high sediment content and the project's high water head create harsh operating conditions. If the turbines or dam face unplanned maintenance or output shortfalls, the project's design benefits would be delayed.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1960-1970

Aswan High Dam (1970)

Egypt's Aswan High Dam on the Nile, completed in 1970, provides irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power. It created Lake Nasser and transformed Egyptian agriculture.

Then

The dam ended the Nile's annual floods and provided reliable irrigation year-round.

Now

It became a model for arid-region water control, though it also trapped sediment and changed downstream ecology.

Why this matters now

Like Aswan, Dashi Gorge manages water in an arid region, balancing irrigation, flood control, and power generation.

1994-2012

Three Gorges Dam (1994-2012)

China's largest hydro project, built on the Yangtze River with 22,500 megawatts of capacity. It provides flood control, power, and navigation benefits across multiple provinces.

Then

The dam began generating in 2003 and reached full capacity in 2012.

Now

It became the world's largest power station and a model for China's large-scale multi-purpose water infrastructure.

Why this matters now

Dashi Gorge follows the same pattern of multi-purpose water control — power, flood control, and irrigation — on a smaller scale in an arid region.

2002-2008

Shuibuya Dam (2008)

The Shuibuya Dam in Hubei province, completed in 2008, held the world record for tallest concrete-face rockfill dam at 233 meters. It was built on the Qingjiang River for power generation and flood control.

Then

Shuibuya began generating power in 2007-2008 and became a major power source for central China.

Now

It held the concrete-face dam height record for nearly two decades until Dashi Gorge surpassed it.

Why this matters now

Dashi Gorge's 247-meter dam breaks Shuibuya's record, showing how far concrete-face dam engineering has advanced.

Sources

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