Beijing Starts Building a Giant Hydropower Plant to Exert Pressure on India

China has begun construction of the Medog hydropower complex on the Brahmaputra River near the border with India. Beijing presents it as a contribution to “green energy”, while New Delhi views the project as a geopolitical lever of control over water resources.

Medog will cost US$170 billion. The complex will include five cascade hydropower plants with an annual generation of 300 billion kWh – equivalent to the United Kingdom’s consumption. It is expected to be put into operation in the 2030s.

The government of India warns that the new dam could reduce the Brahmaputra’s flow by 85 %, creating a risk of water shortages in Assam and neighboring regions. Experts estimate that China will be able to divert up to 40 billion cubic meters of water annually and regulate flows, including through sudden releases.

In response, India has launched the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh. Its annual capacity will exceed 96.36 billion kWh, and the reservoir will be left one-third empty to smooth out flow fluctuations. At the same time, local communities are protesting because of the risk of flooding 16 villages.

The construction of Medog is turning hydropower into a tool for containing India and deepening the rift between Beijing and New Delhi.