China speeds up approval for large hydropower projects

BEIJING, May 24 – Datang’s 3-milllion-kilowatt Guanyinyan hydropower project in southwest China’s Yunnan province was nodded by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), indicating a speeding approval for large hydropower projects in China this year.

Under the great pressure of downward economy, a bunch of hydropower projects are expected to be approved in the second half of 2012, said insiders.

Apart from Datang’s project, the NDRC has also approved the 772MW Angu hydropower plant, 720MW Zhentouba primary hydropower plant, and Shangping secondary hydropower plant since March 2012.

The speeding development of hydropower industry is also mirrored by increasing investment. According to statistics by the National Energy Administration, China’s investment in power generating rose 18.3 percent on year to 72.4 billion yuan in the first quarter of 2012, including 27.6 billion yuan in hydropower, up 78.06 percent on year.