Xiluodu Dam

The Xiluodu Dam is a major hydroelectric project in China.

Location: River: Jinsha River (upper stretch of the Yangtze River)
Region: Border of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, Southwest China
It sits downstream of the Xiangjiaba Dam and upstream of the Baihetan Dam—all key components in China’s hydro strategy.

Planning and Construction History
Initial Proposal First proposed in the 1950s, when China began investigating the hydropower potential of the Yangtze River. However, political turmoil (like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution) put most big infrastructure plans on hold.

Revival of the Project In the 1990s, with China’s rapid industrialization and growing energy demand, the government revived the idea of tapping into the Jinsha River for hydropower. Environmental and technical studies ramped up during this time.

Construction Timeline 2003: Site preparation and early-stage construction began. 2005: Official go-ahead from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). 2005–2013: Main construction period. 2013: The dam was completed and began operations.

Key Engineering Features
Type: Double-curvature arch dam
Height: 285.5 meters — one of the tallest in the world
Length: About 700 meters
Reservoir capacity: 12.67 billion cubic meters
Installed capacity: 13,860 MW
It uses 18 Francis turbines, each with a capacity of 770 MW.

Purpose and Significance
Power Generation Supplies electricity primarily to central and eastern China. It’s part of China’s West-to-East Power Transmission initiative, reducing dependence on coal and improving energy equity across regions.
Flood Control Regulates flow in the upper Yangtze, easing pressure downstream, especially near the Three Gorges Dam.
Silt Control & River Management Helps manage sedimentation in the Yangtze, extending the lifespan of downstream dams.

Environmental and Social Issues
Displacement: Over 50,000 people were relocated due to the reservoir.
Ecological impact: Altered aquatic ecosystems and affected fish migration.
Critics argue that cumulative impacts of multiple dams on the Jinsha River might disrupt the broader Yangtze River Basin ecosystem.

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