Tibet breaking records with hydropower project

cctv.com 08-24-2005 17:22

The construction of China's highest hydropower station in the town of Shiquanhe is in a land of enchanting natural landscapes and ancient beauty, this modern, high-tech project is aimed at improving Tibetan people's long-term living conditions.

The 1,800-kilometer drive from Lhasa to Shiquanhe is a kaleidoscopic tour of ancient Tibetan dynasty ruins, sacred mountains and revered lakes. But the final stop of the tour turns out to be something quite different, the construction site of the Shiquanhe Hydropower Station.

Located 7 kilometers from the town of Shiquanhe, the hydropower station will, on completion, be able to provide round-the-clock electricity for local residents. Located on the Ngari plateau over 4,000 meters above sea level, the challenging project has kept thousands of workers working day and night for more than a year.

Construction Worker Li Mingyu said, "I used to work at another hydropower construction site in Lhasa. I went back to my hometown to get married during my holidays late last year. But I only rested for 3 days. The construction of the Shiquanhe station is desperately short of hands and I had to come over here. "

In addition to homesickness, the construction workers also have to deal with adverse weather conditions on the Ngari plateau, which pose a serious health threat. It can take at least a month to recover from even an ordinary cold. And many of the workers are middle aged, and more vulnerable to sickness.

Deputy Commander of Shiquanhe Hydropower Construction Project Zhou Kaiping said, "We plan to conclude work on the basic structure of the project before the river freezes in winter. That includes work on flood-relief channels and an anti-permeation wall, and rooflaying on generator unit buildings. "

The dedication of the workers is enabling the project to proceed at a quicker pace than originally planned. 15 months after the construction began, over 60 percent of the work has been completed.

Editor:Hu Hang  Source:CCTV.com