Rivers without Boundaries

Hydropower Policy BRIef: Part IV. “PARADE OF THE CHAMPIONS”

(Full Contents of Hydropower Policy BRIef here) 2020 HYDROPOWER EXPANSION IN SELECTED COUNTRIES Eurasia            CHINA Almost two thirds of globally installed hydropower (12.5GW) was added in China, where hydropower capacity reached 370 GW, wind power – 280 GW and photovoltaic – 250 GW. In 2020 most of increase accounts …

Could China Become the Champion in Dam Removal?

Bloomberg   As President Xi Jinping calls for greater environmental protection, officials are eager to demolish badly-planned dams. But the country will need vast amounts of clean hydroelectric power to meet its net-zero goal. China is trying to wean its massive economy off coal and fossil fuels to meet its …

The Turgusun-1 Project Demonstrates Why Hydropower Is a Bad Option for Kazakhstan

According to Xinhua agency the China-built Turgusun hydropower plant has been operating at full capacity since mid-July and will help ease a power shortage in East Kazakhstan Region. The plant is located on the Turgusun River near the city of Altai. Built by the China International Water and Electric Corporation …

Daursky Strict Scientific Nature Reserve Almost Doubles in Size

State Strict Scientific Nature Reserve (Zapovednik) Daursky has been expanded by Governmental Decree #1301 issued on August 4, 2021. The area of the strictly protect area has been expanded from 45 000 hectares to 84 000 ha (more than by 80%) by adding 11 new adjacent land plots in grassland …

World Heritage as a “No Go” Zone for Investment in Industry and Infrastructure

Dams threatening Lake Baikal and five other iconic areas are featured in a new report by Friends of the Earth US “World Heritage Forever? How Banks Can Protect the World’s Most Iconic Cultural and Natural Sites”. The report is examining how the international banking sector lacks strong policies and practices …

Natural Heritage Receives a Major Blow as the Selous Game Reserve is Discussed at Fuzhou Session of the World Heritage Convention Committee

On July 19th, the majority of the World Heritage Committee Members refuted the World Heritage Centre’s recommendation to de-list the property damaged severely and deliberately by construction of a hydropower reservoir on the Rufiji River. Instead many of them congratulated the State Party of Tanzania for its relentless efforts in …