Chinese geologists question safety of Brahmaputra Mega-Dam in Tibet being built over active seismic fault line
Chinese geologists have raised significant safety concerns regarding a massive hydropower project currently under development in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The project involves building what is expected to be the world's largest dam situated directly over an active seismic fault line.
China officially commenced work on the $167.8-billion mega-dam project on the Brahmaputra River, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, last July. The site is located in the Medog County, a region characterized by complex geological formations and proximity to the unstable boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Geological experts have pointed to the risk of Reservoir Induced Seismicity (RIS), arguing that the immense weight of the water behind the dam could trigger major earthquakes in the region. Recent reports highlight that the project sits near the Great Bend, an area prone to high magnitude tremors that could compromise the structure's integrity and potentially threaten downstream communities in India and Bangladesh.
The Chinese government has stated that the project is essential for reaching carbon neutrality goals and securing energy supplies. However, the proximity to the fault line continues to draw domestic and international scrutiny regarding the long-term environmental and structural consequences of such a large-scale engineering feat in a high-risk seismic zone.
Source: China formally began construction of the $167.8-billion dam on the Brahmaputra in Tibet last July.
