Jinghong Dam : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jinghong Dam

Dam in Jinghong, Yunnan Province

22°03′09″N 100°45′58″E / 22.05250°N 100.76611°E / 22.05250; 100.76611StatusIn useConstruction began2003Opening date2008Construction cost2.3 billion yuan (US$ 1.76 billion)Dam and spillwaysType of damGravity, roller-compacted concreteImpoundsLancang (Mekong) RiverHeight108 m (354 ft)Length704.5 m (2,311 ft)ReservoirCreatesJinghong ReservoirTotal capacity249,000,000 m³ (201,868 acre⋅ft)Surface area510 km² (197 sq mi)Power StationCommission date2008-2010Installed capacity1,750 MW

The Jinghong Dam (Chinese: 景洪大坝) is a gravity dam composed of roller-compacted concrete on the Lancang (Mekong) River near Jinghong in Yunnan Province, China. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it has an associated 1,750 MW power station.^[1] Part of the power generated is sold to Thailand under an agreement with China.^[2]

As of January 2020^[update] it is the nearest Chinese dam upstream of the Thai border, and has helped to cause huge fluctuations in river levels, affecting people's livelihoods downstream by disrupting the river's natural cycle. It, along with the many other dams on the river, is exacerbating the effects of climate change and impacting the ecosystem, disturbing the migratory patterns of fish as well as riverbank plants and local agriculture downstream.^[3]

References

^ "New hydropower station completed in Yunnan". China Daily. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
^ "Transmission Interconnection between Jinghong Hydropower Project in Yunnan Province to Thailand". Asian Development Bank. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
^ Bainbridge, Amy; Vimonsuk, Supattra (20 January 2020). "Chinese dams are 'exacerbating' Mekong River drought, and locals say they've never seen it this low". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 January 2020.