India Unveils $77 Billion Plan to Harness 76 GW Hydropower from Brahmaputra Basin by 2047
In response to China's $77 billion hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River, India is also considering a water storage project. The project aims to mitigate the impact of China's projects and improve water management. This plan by India could raise concerns in China, as the Brahmaputra River is a vital water source for India and Bangladesh.
On Monday, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said that it has prepared a $77 billion transmission plan to transfer more than 76 gigawatts of hydropower capacity from the Brahmaputra basin by 2047 to meet India's growing electricity demand.
In a report released on Monday, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) stated that the scheme includes 208 large hydropower projects in 12 sub-basins of the northeastern states, with a potential capacity of approximately 64.9 gigawatts and an additional 11.1 gigawatts from pumped-storage plants.
The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet, China, enters India, flows through Bangladesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra River holds significant hydropower potential in the Indian territory near the Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh.
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Being so close to China poses difficulties in developing the project's water management and infrastructure. India fears that China's dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (the Brahmaputra River before it enters India) could reduce summer water flow into India by up to 85 percent.
The CEA report notes that the Brahmaputra Basin, which spans Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, and parts of West Bengal, holds more than 80 percent of India's untapped hydropower potential, with Arunachal Pradesh alone accounting for 52.2 gigawatts.
According to the CEA, the first phase of the plan, which runs until 2035, will require ₹1.91 trillion, while the second phase will cost ₹4.52 trillion. India aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by achieving 500 gigawatts of non-fossil power generation capacity by 2030 and achieve complete fossil-fuel-free power generation by 2070.
