The Three Gorges Project, the world' s biggest power generation facility, has completed the pre-set electricity generation target for this year.

As of 6 AM Saturday, the project, which is being built on the middle reaches of Yangtze River, China's longest, generated 32.3 billion kw/hours of electricity for the year, 48 days ahead of deadline, according to Li Yong'an, general manager of the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation.

Half the power generated was sent to economically developed east China, 25 percent to central China and the remainder to southern Guangdong Province, said Li.

 Li, who is also deputy head of the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee of the State Council, said one more generator would be added this year.

 A total of 10 generators have been put into service since July 10, 2003 when the first of the project's generators began working. It is estimated that 38 billion kw/hours of electricity will have been generated by the end of the year, 5.7 billion kw/hours more than the pre-set target.

 When all 14 generators installed on the northern bank of the Yangtze become operational by 2005, the Three Gorges Project will have an aggregate installed capacity of 9.8 million kw and will be able to generate 47 billion kw/hours of electricity annually.

 Launched in 1993, the Three Gorges Project is one of the major works to harness the Yangtze. The gigantic project is to be constructed in three stages. Preparations and actual construction in the first phase were carried out between 1993 and 1997. The Yangtze was dammed at the Three Gorges area for the first time on November 8, 1997.

In accordance with an original plan, the Three Gorges Project, with an estimated cost of 180 billion yuan (US$21.7 billion), will have 26 generators with a combined generating capacity amounting to 18.2 million kw and be able to generate 84.7 billion kw/hours of hydro-electric power annually when it is completed in 2009.

Apart from the huge economic benefits generated, the Three Gorges Project will also enormously enhance China's flood combating capability at the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze.

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2004)