Hydropower development in Tibet is fraught with huge risks because of the danger of major earthquakes. What’s more, the projects might not be needed, say experts. Although the precise picture is still unclear, it’s likely that Nepal’s huge earthquake last month has wreaked major damage to a dozen hydroelectric projects in Nepal. This should sound a shrill warning for projects across the border in Tibet, an area also traversed by highly active seismic faults. Last November Tibet’s first major dam, at Zangmu, started generating power, marking the start of large-scale hydropower in Tibet. Besides the risks to existing and future hydro projects in Tibet, centred mainly along the Yarlung Tsangpo river (known as the Brahmaputra once it reaches India), there is little evidence that the dams are actually needed, says Fan Xiao, geologist and chief engineer of the Regional Geological Survey Team of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau.

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