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DAM-L PI: Three Gorges News -> November 21, 2001 (fwd)
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Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 09:09:12 -0700
Subject: November 21, 2001
To: dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca
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<head><title>November 21, 2001</title></head>
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<h3>November 21, 2001</h3>
Our web site is <a href="http://www.probeinternational.org/pi/3g">www.probeinternational.org/pi/3g</a>
<h3>News Briefs</h3>
<b>Cofferdam removal begins</b> <br><i>China Daily</i> reports that work has begun on dismantling the temporary cofferdam built around the Three Gorges dam construction site when the main channel of the river was blocked in November 1997. More than 100 large excavators have begun removing eight million cubic metres of rock and earth. The work is due to be completed by June, 2002, before the damming of the diversion channel later that year. (<a href="http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/news/cn/2001-11-19/44257.html" target="_blank">Three Gorges cofferdam to be dismantled</a>, Nov 19, 2001) <br> <br><b>Construction industry journal calls dam a dinosaur</b> <br>In a survey of China's booming infrastructure sector, the industry journal <i>International Construction</i> has highlighted some of the problems surrounding the Three Gorges dam project: "Construction is currently facing spiralling costs, technological difficulties, major resettlement problems and intense media coverage. <P>
Unlike the Chinese investments in infrastructure, the future benefits of the Three Gorges dam are questionable, as rapid technological advances have already turned it into a modern-day dinosaur." (<a href="http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?releaseid=9604&magazinearticleid=134092&siteid=12&magazineid=111" target="_blank">Going for Gold</a>, Sept 1, 2001) <P>
Last year the same journal reported that "China's biggest and most costly project has become the latest focus of a wave of allegations about corrupt officials taking bribes from unqualified contractors. These fears have raised concern about the safety of this mega-project." (<a href="http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?releaseid=4128&magazinearticleid=41614&siteid=12&magazineid=111" target="_blank">Great Leap Forward</a>, Feb 1, 2000) <P><br>
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<font color="#CC0000" size="+1">Li Peng raises concerns about Three Gorges turbines and river-traffic disruption</font>
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Li Peng, long-time champion of the Three Gorges dam, has raised concerns about the project's giant turbines, which will be larger and more complicated than any ever attempted before. The former premier of China and current chairman of the National People's Congress is also worried about the two-month interruption to Yangtze River traffic when the diversion channel is dammed late next year, <a href="http://www.china3gorges.com" target="_blank">Sanxia gongcheng bao</a> (Three Gorges Project Daily) reported. <P>
During an inspection trip last month to the dam site near Yichang, Hubei province, Mr. Li said the Three Gorges project will not only control floods, generate electricity and improve navigation, but also contribute to the success of the south-north water transfer scheme in which water from the Yangtze River is to be moved to parched north China. <P>
Mr. Li listed the three main goals of the Three Gorges dam project's second phase, to be completed in 2003. The reservoir is to be filled to the 135-metre level, with everyone living below that level to be resettled before then; the first group of turbines is to start generating electricity; and the permanent ship lock is to begin operating. <P>
He said the quality of the dam project as a whole is sound, thanks to the introduction of market principles, and good management and supervisory systems, but that project quality will only really be tested after the reservoir is filled. <P>
And although great progress has been made to date in building the dam, he expressed deep concern about the project's 26 turbines, which will be the world's largest. Citing "many unknown factors," he said uncertainty surrounds the manufacture and installation of the 700 MW turbines. (GE Canada's hydro division, GE Hydro, is building three of the units at its plant in Lachine, Que.) <P>
The Itaipu dam on the Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay - currently the world's biggest dam - has 18 turbines. Most of the engineers and technicians who worked on Itaipu, which was completed in 1982, have now retired, Mr. Li said, apparently regretting the loss of their expertise. <P>
Mr. Li said lessons must be learned from a serious technical accident that occurred during installation of the turbines at the Gezhouba dam, located about 40 km downstream of the Three Gorges site and completed in 1988. He gave no further details about the accident. <P>
He asked builders of the Three Gorges dam to be aware that installing the turbines and the electricity-transmission equipment will require advanced technology, a great deal of care, and a high degree of technical and psychological preparation. <P>
Another major challenge will be the damming of the diversion channel, which Mr. Li said is likely to be tougher and more complex than the November 1997 operation to block the river's main channel. Of particular concern is the fact that navigation on the Yangtze will have to be interrupted for 67 days, he said. <P>
During this time, all boat passengers will have to disembark and freight will have to be transported overland to the other side of the dam. This will present many difficulties and require complicated co-ordination among local governments, shipping companies and dam authorities, Mr. Li said. Moreover, companies that sustain economic losses as a result of the interruption to navigation will have to be compensated, he said. <P>
<hr size="3" width="400" color="#CC0000"><p>Three Gorges Probe News Service:</p>
<p>All Chinese stories that are translated and
published by Three Gorges Probe are as true
to the original Chinese text as possible.
Editing for English grammar and style is
kept to a minimum in instances where
misinterpretation may occur.</p>
<p>Three Gorges Probe is dedicated to covering the
scientific, technical, economic, social, and
environmental ramifications of completing the
Three Gorges Project, as well as the
alternatives to the dam. Three Gorges Probe
welcomes submissions. As part of our service, we
also reprint articles about the Three Gorges
Project we feel will be of interest to our
readers.</p>
<p>Publisher: Patricia Adams<br>
Editor (English): Kelly Haggart<br>
Editor (Chinese): Mu Lan</p>
<p>Three Gorges Probe is also available in <a href="http://www.probeinternational.org/probeint/ThreeGorges/tgp/chgifhz.html">Chinese</a>.</p>
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