Three Gorges Dam History Ⅲ

According to Three Gorges Dam History, it has been cost 75 years for the construction of Three Gorges Project during the process. Though there are a lot of expectations and arguments in China before established. In 1990s, the proposal of construction of Three Gorges Dam has been approved by National People's Congress.

Three Gorges Dam History Ⅲ – Advocated Firstly By Sun Yat-sen

At the end of the the First World War (1914-1918), Sun Yat-sen wanted to develop China industrial projects with western industrial equipment and scientific technology. Thus he wrote many articles that mentioned the advantages of Yangtze River. Sun Yat-sen pointed that there are rich water resources of Yangtze River, besides the important rich power resources. It was the first time to mention the plan of Yangtze River in Three Gorges Dam History.

Three Gorges Dam History Ⅲ – Cooperation

After published the articles written by Sun Yat-sen, the ministry of industry and commerce of Nationalist Party Government had been planned to construct hydraulic power plant on upper reaches of Yangtze River at the beginning of 1930. After two years later, the National Government planned to establish hydropower station respectively in Xiling Gorge and Gezhou Dam but failed.

In late Anti-Japanese War, American Government attempt to monopolize the economic interests of China and then an official of American Government had been send to China. American government proposed to provide a loan to Chinese Government to construct hydraulic power plant and fertilizer plant in Three Gorges, but Chinese people had to repay the debt by exporting chemical fertilizer to American in 1994.

In May, 1994, Dr. John Lucian Sovage who was the chief engineer of Bureau of Reclamation of USA arrived in Chongqing Municipality and suggested to build the power station in Nanjin'guan. The power station was designed of 225 meters high with a total installed capacity of 10.56 million kilowatts and operated for flood control, navigation and irrigation. (Nowadays, Yangtze Cruise could navigate to Chongqing Municipality directly while the transport cost decreases 35-37%.) In 1945, this plan has been approved by both American Government and Chinese Government, and then started to prepare next year by experts of both countries. But in May 1947, because of the economic depression of China, the design effort had been stopped.

Three Gorges Dam History Ⅲ – Discussion

After the establishment of New China, a lot of works of Construction of Three Gorges Dam such as investigation, planning, design and research have been carried out in Three Gorges Dam History. Since 1950s, Chairman Mao Zedong and other central leaders have visited Three Gorges for investigating the construction of Three Gorges dam, in the meanwhile, Premier Zhou Enlai has paid much attention to control and develop Yangtze River.

In December 1970, the decision of constructing Gezhou Dam Water Control Project has been approved. With the summarization of experience of Gezhouba Water Control Project, the proposal of construction of Three Gorges Dam has been mentioned many times by central government.